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U.S. Customhouse

New York, Manhattan, New York Listed Ref. 72000889 National Historic Landmark Building
U.S. Customhouse, New York, New York
Photo: ajay_suresh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Why it's listed

Rising seven stories on the block bounded by Bridge Street, State Street, Bowling Green and Whitehall Street, this Custom House was built between 1901 and 1907 to designs by Cass Gilbert, who won the design competition. Its French Baroque Revival style is evident in a rusticated base, a giant order of Corinthian columns, a slate mansard roof and a monumental arched entrance. Sculpture covers the exterior: Daniel Chester French carved four continent groups flanking the entrance, Karl Bitter made the crowning shield and eagle, and twelve heroic figures represent the commercial centers of the world. Inside, Reginald Marsh painted rotunda murals of a ship arriving in the Port of New York, completed in 1937, and Elmer Garnsey painted ten major ports in the Collector's Reception Room. The site earlier held Fort Amsterdam, the Government House and a row of town houses known as Steamship Row. It is listed for its architecture, art and role in commerce.

Significance in brief: The nomination points to its design by Cass Gilbert, who won the design competition, and to its richly ornamented French Baroque Revival style. It highlights the extensive exterior sculpture by Daniel Chester French, Karl Bitter and others, and the interior murals by Reginald Marsh and Elmer Garnsey. The site has also long been important to New York's commercial and civic life.

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 72000889, listed January 31, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).

Key facts

AddressBowling Green, New York
CountyManhattan
ListedJanuary 31, 1972
Reference number72000889
Resource typeBuilding
Period of significance20th Century (begun 1901, completed 1907)
Architect / builderCass Gilbert (architect)
Architectural styleFrench Baroque Revival
Areas of significanceArchitecture
Level of significanceNational
National Historic LandmarkYes, designated December 8, 1976
Status (as stated in the nomination)Condition is listed as excellent and unaltered, on its original site. Customs business was gradually moving elsewhere, and the building was expected to house the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Post Office and a Maritime Library.
Acreage1.9
Within districtWall Street Historic District
Coordinates40.70407, -74.01375 (NPS GIS)

What listing means for this property

National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.

Sources and further reading

Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.