United States Post Office and Courthouse (Texarkana) facts for kids
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Texarkana US Post Office and Courthouse
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U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in 2006
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 US Post Office and Courthouse
Location in Arkansas
US Post Office and Courthouse
Location in Texas
US Post Office and Courthouse
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana, Arkansas |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1933 |
| Architect | Perkins, Chatten & Hammond; James A. Wetmore; Witt, Seibert & Halsey |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000245 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 24, 2000 |
The United States Post Office and Courthouse in Texarkana is a special building. It sits right on State Line Avenue, which is the border between Arkansas and Texas. This means the building is actually in two states at once! It serves as a courthouse for federal courts in both Arkansas and Texas.
This unique building was finished in 1933. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Before this building, an earlier courthouse stood here, built in 1892. It also straddled the state line. In 1911, a new courthouse was built only in Texas. The old border building then served only Arkansas until it was torn down in 1930. The current building was then built in its place.
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Why This Building Is Special
Since it was built in 1933, the Texarkana Post Office and Courthouse has been the most important building in downtown Texarkana. Its location is a big reason why. The main street, State Line Avenue, runs north-south and divides Texas from Arkansas. This federal building is right in the middle of State Line Avenue.
Because it sits on the border of two states, the building clearly shows its federal purpose. No other federal building in the United States is located in two states at the same time!
Building Design and Construction
To make way for this large federal building, many older buildings were moved or torn down. This included the first U.S. Post Office and Courthouse. The design of the building was a team effort. Witt, Seibert & Halsey from Texarkana worked with Perkins, Chatten & Hammond from Chicago. James A. Wetmore was the main architect for the government.
The building has kept most of its original uses over the years. The post office on the first floor still works. The courtrooms and judge's offices on the third floor are still used. Many other offices also serve their original purposes. This shows how important the building has remained to the community.
Over time, some changes have been made. In 1957, new air conditioning and lights were added to the courtrooms. More changes happened in the 1970s, like updates to the post office area. Even with these updates, the building still looks and feels much like it did when it was first built.
Building Style and Look
The Texarkana Post Office and Courthouse was built in the Beaux Arts style. This style is known for being grand and formal. Even though it was built in the 1930s, it has a few Art Deco features, which was a popular style at that time.
The building is made of gray Arkansas Limestone. It has a steel and concrete frame. It has five main floors, a full basement, and a small service area on the roof. The bottom two floors have a rough, stone look. The main entrance on the south side has three large arched openings.
Exterior Features
The upper floors (two, three, and four) are covered in smooth limestone. Windows show where each floor is. On the east and west sides, parts of the building stick out a bit. There are also tall, decorative columns called pilasters. The south side, which is the front, has four large columns that go up to the fifth floor.
The fifth floor is set back from the street on three sides. But on the front (south) side, it stays in line with the rest of the building. This makes the front look much taller and more impressive. The building's name is carved into the stone on this upper part. It also has a cool Art Deco pattern.
Inside the Building
Inside, the building's original design is still clear. Floors two through five mostly have offices around the outside. These offices open into hallways that circle a central area with restrooms and service spaces. There's also a small light court in the middle to let in natural light.
Two large courtrooms take up the north end of the third and fourth floors. These rooms are very tall, covering two floors, and still look much like they did when built. The main elevator lobbies on all floors are also mostly original.
The post office lobby on the first floor has been changed a few times. However, it still has much of its original feel. Some areas that were once part of the lobby, now used for postal work, still have their original plaster ceilings and wood walls. Other parts of the building also show off the original wood trim and plaster ceilings.
