U.S. Post Office
Also known as: Federal Office Building
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Covering a full downtown Buffalo block, this former post office and federal office building was designed by James Knox Taylor, who later became Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury and also designed the Government Building at the 1901 Pan American Exposition. The government bought the site in 1892, laid the cornerstone in June 1897 and dedicated the $1,500,000 building in March 1901. Its granite walls, tile roofs with copper cresting and 244-foot tower on Ellicott Street give it a picturesque High Victorian outline. Carved buffalo heads, eagles and gargoyles decorate the exterior, and a cast iron porte-cochère marks the Oak Street side. Inside, marble columns, mahogany woodwork and terrazzo floors line the vaulted first-floor corridor. A four-story central courtyard under a steel and glass roof combines Gothic-inspired arches with modern structural technology. A 1936 remodeling added office space by roofing the courtyard's first floor with a skylight.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a notable late nineteenth century federal office building designed by James Knox Taylor, later Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury. Its picturesque granite exterior, carved buffalo heads and cast iron porte-cochère are highlighted, as is an interior with rich materials and a large glass-and-steel-roofed courtyard. The courtyard is described as showing both Gothic revivalism and functionalism.
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 72000839, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 121 Ellicott St., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000839 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897-1901 |
| Architect / builder | James Knox Taylor |
| Architectural style | High Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and occupied by federal offices, which the form says were soon to be moved; the Post Office itself had moved out in 1963. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.88160, -78.87262 (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 72000839.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084763
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.