United States Post Office and Courthouse
Also known as: United States Courthouse
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Why it's listed
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.
Significance in brief: 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.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99001648, listed January 21, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 500 E. Ford St., Augusta |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond County |
| Listed | January 21, 2000 |
| Reference number | 99001648 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1916 |
| Architect / builder | Oscar Wenderoth, Supervising Architect, U.S. Treasury Department |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival (Italian Renaissance Revival) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | 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. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Augusta Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.47231, -81.96735 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99001648.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891081
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.