US Post Office-Milton Main
Also known as: Milton Main Post Office
Why it's listed
Milton's main post office, at 499 Adams Street, was built in 1936 and dedicated on January 27, 1937. Its walls are local quarried granite, with oversized blocks as lintels, stucco gable ends and a copper-covered roof crowned by a circular wooden cupola. The five-bay front has a pedimented central entrance reached by fifteen steps, with a carved eagle between two hatchets in the pediment. Inside, a carved wood vestibule leads to a lobby with terrazzo floors and marble wainscot. The design came from the office of Supervising Architect Louis A. Simon and reflects Public Works Administration goals of quick construction, local materials and efficient plans; the building went up in seven months. It brought mail distribution under one roof, replacing five separate post offices. The lobby mural, painted by Cambridge artist Elizabeth Tracy for the Treasury Relief Art Project, depicts the Suffolk Resolves and the Boston Massacre. The building is a Colonial Revival landmark in the town.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building represents the construction and design policies of the Public Works Administration in the late 1930s, including use of local materials, standardized methods and efficient plans. It is a simple Colonial Revival design topped by a landmark cupola. The lobby also holds a Treasury Relief Art Project mural by Elizabeth Tracy.
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 86001213, listed May 30, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 499 Adams St., Milton |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | May 30, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001213 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and occupied; it serves as the Milton Main Post Office. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.25842, -71.04239 (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 86001213.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715895
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.