US Post Office-Hempstead
Also known as: Hempstead Post Office
Why it's listed
This two-story post office at 200 Fulton Avenue in Hempstead, Long Island, was designed in 1931 by the New York firm Tooker & Marsh and completed in 1932-33. Built of tan, brown and red brick in Flemish bond with limestone trim, it has a projecting central pavilion, symmetrical wings and bronze entrance doors under a carved eagle. Its traditional Neoclassical layout is paired with stylized Art Deco details, including relief panels of muscular figures representing sunlight and lightning. Inside, the lobby has green marble wainscoting, aluminum trim and a terrazzo floor. It also holds two murals by Peppino Mangravite, painted in 1936 and installed in 1937, showing Hempstead settlers in 1640 and an airship delivering mail in 1919. The building was authorized during the Depression, after local lobbying, at a cost of $313,000. It is notable as one of the earliest New York post offices designed by a consulting architect rather than by Treasury staff.
Significance in brief: It is an unusually fine example of a federal building combining traditional Neoclassical massing with Art Deco ornamentation. It was among the first post offices in the state designed by a private consulting architect instead of the Treasury's Supervising Architect. It also holds two 1936-37 murals by Peppino Mangravite depicting local history, painted for the Treasury Department's art program.
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 88002499, listed November 17, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 Fulton Ave., Hempstead |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | November 17, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002499 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1932-3; 1936-7 |
| Architect / builder | Tooker & Marsh |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical with Art Deco ornamentation |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in good condition; the exterior and interior retain a high degree of integrity, though some original lobby features have been altered or removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.70742, -73.62818 (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 88002499.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890967
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.