{"nrhp_refnum":"99001648","name":"United States Post Office and Courthouse","other_names":["United States Courthouse"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"500 E. Ford St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Augusta","county":"Richmond County","state":"GA","lat":33.47230984500004,"lon":-81.96734816399999,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2000-01-21","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Politics/Government"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A three-story Italian Renaissance Revival federal post office and courthouse at 500 East Ford Street in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, built 1915-1916 under the U.S. Treasury Department.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it is an excellent example of Italian Renaissance Revival architecture, with symmetrical elevations, bold cornices, arches, brackets and sculptural ornament. It also argues the building has symbolized the Federal presence in Augusta and that activities inside shaped the political development of the city and of Georgia.","narrative":"Occupying a full city block in downtown Augusta, this U-shaped federal building opened in 1916 as a post office and courthouse. The U.S. Treasury Department built it between 1915 and 1916 for $250,000, with Oscar Wenderoth as Supervising Architect. Its walls are cream statuary marble from Georgia, beneath a red mission tile roof. The west facade has fluted Corinthian pilasters, a denticulated cornice, seven arched entries with wrought iron fanlight grilles, and carved eagle cartouches. Inside, the original lobby keeps a monumental marble staircase, marble floors and wainscoting, and several carved marble postal tables. The second-floor district courtroom has wood paneling, Doric pilasters and a coffered half dome. The building was extended in 1936 and modernized in 1960 and 1971. The Postal Service moved out in 1973, and a rehabilitation from 1992 to 1996 restored the courtroom ceiling and corridors. It was listed for its Italian Renaissance Revival design and its role in the city's political and governmental life, and it still serves the federal courts.","period_of_significance":"1916","architect_builder":"Oscar Wenderoth, Supervising Architect, U.S. Treasury Department","architectural_style":"Renaissance Revival (Italian Renaissance Revival)","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Still in use as the Federal courthouse and headquarters for U.S. District Court offices for the Augusta Division; renovated 1992-1996 after being vacated during the work.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:43.444939-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_GA/99001648.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/99001648/c504a79690-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/99001648/c504a79690-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"U.S. Federal Judiciary Center","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Post_Office_and_Court_House,_Augusta_(Richmond_County,_Georgia).jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Federal Judiciary Center</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Post_Office_and_Court_House,_Augusta_(Richmond_County,_Georgia).jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"04000515","name":"Augusta Downtown Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/georgia/augusta-downtown-historic-district-04000515/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/93209417","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Post_Office_and_Courthouse_(Augusta,_Georgia)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7891081"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/georgia/richmond-county/united-states-post-office-and-courthouse-99001648/"}