United States Post Office (Ely, Nevada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office, Ely, Nevada
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Postal Palace Convention Center in 2014
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 Location in Nevada
Location in the United States
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| Location | 415 Fifth St., Ely, Nevada |
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| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Simon, Louis A.; et al. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | US Post Offices in Nevada MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001122 |
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 2005 |
The U.S. Post Office in Ely, Nevada is a special building with a long history. It was built a long time ago, in 1937, to a common design used for government buildings back then. This style is called Classical Revival, which means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. The post office opened in 1938 and served the town for many years.
In 2002, the post office closed its doors. But the story didn't end there! In 2005, it got a new life. It was reopened as a convention center called the Postal Palace. This building is now part of the nearby Hotel Nevada and Gambling Hall. Because of its history and unique style, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This list helps protect important places in the United States.
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What the Building Looks Like
The old Ely Post Office is about 3,800 square feet, which is a pretty good size! It has a front that looks the same on both sides, which is called symmetrical. The front part of the building is one story tall. But if you go to the back, where the loading dock is, it's actually two stories.
Building Materials and Style
The main material used to build it is brick. It also has special stone pieces, called cast stone, that add to its look. The building used to have a very fancy triangular part above the entrance, called a pediment. It also had classic entry doors. However, these were changed in 1977 to make it easier for everyone to get inside. They were replaced with a more modern aluminum storefront.
Inside, the public lobby has smooth plaster walls. The lower part of the walls and the floor are covered with tiles. The rest of the main floor is used for work areas and offices. Downstairs, in the basement, there are spaces for storage and things like heating and cooling systems.
A Bit of History
The Ely Post Office was built thanks to a special plan in 1932. This plan aimed to build new post offices in several Nevada cities, including Ely, Elko, Las Vegas, and Reno.
Delays in Building
Building the post office in Ely wasn't easy. There were some delays! First, the government and the owner of the land couldn't agree on a price. This problem had to be solved in court in 1933.
Then, there was another big delay. From 1933 to 1937, the state of Nevada and the federal government argued about who owned the land. The federal government said they wouldn't build the post office until they had full control of the property. Finally, they sorted it out, and construction began in June 1937. The building was finished in January 1938, and it officially opened on January 29, 1938, with a special ceremony.
From Post Office to Convention Center
The post office served the community for many years. But in 1999, a new postal building opened in Ely. So, the old post office closed in 2002.
People in Ely wanted to find a new use for the historic building. In 2003, a U.S. Senator named Harry Reid helped out. He worked to make the building available for the community to use. The local county government thought about leasing it to use for county offices. They even hoped to get federal money to fix it up and make it bigger.
However, the building stayed empty for a while. Then, in 2005, the nearby Hotel Nevada and Gambling Hall bought it. They decided to turn it into a convention center. On December 15, 2005, the building reopened as the Postal Palace convention center. It's a great example of how old buildings can be given a new purpose!
