United States Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House (Spokane, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House
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U.S. Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House, December 2007
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 904 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, Washington |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | James Knox Taylor, Louis A. Simon |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Beaux Arts, Second Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004269 |
| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1983 |
The Federal Building and U.S. Post Office in Spokane, Washington, is a very old and important building. It has served as a post office, a courthouse (where legal cases are heard), and a custom house (where government officials check goods coming into the country). This historic building is located in Spokane, in Spokane County, Washington. Today, it is mainly used as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.
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History of the Spokane Federal Building
The Federal Building and U.S. Post Office in Spokane opened in October 1909. It was the first big federal building built in the "Inland Empire." This area covers parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Spokane was growing fast and needed a larger post office. It also needed more space for other government offices.
Building the New Post Office
The government bought the land for the building in 1903. It cost $100,000, which was a lot of money back then! James Knox Taylor, a top architect for the U.S. Treasury, designed the building. He drew the plans in 1906 and 1907. Construction started in 1908 and finished in 1909.
Just before it opened, President William Howard Taft visited the building. He thought it was "simple, beautiful, and solid." In early October, postal workers moved everything from the old post office. They moved records and equipment to the new building in about two days. There were only small delays for people sending mail.
Unexpected Guests: The Post Office Cats
Only four months after the post office opened, rats were found in the basement! To solve this problem, seven cats were allowed to live in the building. The postmaster even received $18 each year for each cat's food and care. The cats lived there for at least a year. No one knows exactly when the rat problem finally ended.
Expanding the Building
As Spokane kept growing, the post office needed even more space. So, the government bought the land right next to the building. An addition was finished in 1941. This new part was designed by Louis A. Simon. He was the Supervising Architect for the Public Buildings Administration.
In 1994, the building got a big update. New, energy-efficient lights were put in. Modern elevators and new heating and cooling systems were also added. Important public areas inside the building were also fixed up and made to look new again.
Recognizing its Importance
The Federal Building and U.S. Post Office was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's an important historical site. In 2004, the building won an award. It was named "The Office Building of the Year" in the historic category. This award came from the Building Owners and Managers Association Northwest Region.
Building Design and Style
The Federal Building and U.S. Post Office in Spokane has a special mix of two building styles. These are Beaux Arts Classicism and Second Renaissance Revival. Both styles were popular in the early 1900s. They were often used for large public buildings. These styles often feature a strong, stone-like first floor and decorative railings called balustrades.
Outside the Building
The architect, James Knox Taylor, loved designs inspired by old Roman and Greek buildings. He believed these styles showed the importance of the government.
The outside of the building is very detailed and well-balanced. The front is the same on both sides. The basement level is covered in granite stone. The first floor is made of rough-cut limestone with large arched doorways. Fancy carved oval shapes separate the first and second floors.
The second and third floors are covered with smooth limestone. They have tall, flat columns called pilasters between the windows. The very top of the building has a decorative band called an entablature. This includes a smooth frieze and round medallions. The cornice, which is the top edge, has small square blocks called dentils. A low wall with a balustrade sits above the cornice.
The addition built in 1941 fits perfectly with the original building. Louis A. Simon designed it to match the existing Beaux Arts Classicism and Second Renaissance Revival styles. It uses similar shapes, materials, and details. This makes the whole building look like one complete design.
Inside the Building
The inside of the building has several beautiful areas. The first floor has grand public spaces. These include the main lobby, the elevator area, and the main staircase. These areas are very large and have fancy finishes. You can see marble columns, floors, and wall panels. There are also decorative plaster designs on the walls and ceilings. The ceilings have recessed squares called coffers. The floors are made of terrazzo, a mix of stone chips and cement.
The federal courtroom and its lobby are on the third floor. These areas were updated in 1994. The lobby has marble floors and walls. The courtroom has rich details, like decorative columns and plasterwork. An oval skylight is set inside an oval dome in the courtroom ceiling. The original wooden railings, benches, and desks are still there.
Offices are located on the second and third floors. Wide hallways with terrazzo floors and marble baseboards separate the offices.
The building also had a "sneak hole" in the past. This was a hidden area above the postal workroom. Inspectors could secretly watch employees through small peep holes. This "sneak hole" is not used anymore today.
Important Dates for the Building
- 1903: Land bought for the new Federal building.
- 1909: Building finished and opened.
- 1941: Addition to the building completed.
- 1983: Building listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1994: Major renovation and restoration work finished.
- 2004: Building received "The Office Building of the Year Award."
Quick Facts About the Building
- Location: West 904 Riverside Avenue
- Architects: James Knox Taylor; Louis A. Simon
- Built: 1909; Addition in 1941
- Historical Status: Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
- Building Styles: Beaux Arts Classicism and Second Renaissance Revival
- Main Materials: Limestone; Granite
- Special Features: Grand front entrance; Beautiful first-floor lobby; Third-floor courtroom with a skylight
