U.S. Customhouse
Why it's listed
Beside the railroad approaches to the Niagara River bridges, this stone customs house at 2245 Whirlpool Street in Niagara Falls was built in 1863, the year the Port of Entry moved from Lewiston to the Suspension Bridge area. The two-and-a-half-story building is set into a railroad embankment, so its second story opens directly onto the tracks, where a customs office still serves passing trains. Over time it housed both a post office and customs service until 1906, then other uses, including a button factory during World War I. A fire around 1924 gutted the original three-story building, and the 1927-28 renovation lowered the roof and added a new Whirlpool Street entrance after the railroad loop was relocated. Customs operations returned in 1928 and stayed until 1962. Its significance rests on its architecture, commerce and transportation roles, and on the continuity of its function at a busy international crossing.
Significance in brief: It was built in 1863, when the Port of Entry moved from Lewiston to the Suspension Bridge section of Niagara Falls. It has served a customs function almost continuously for about 110 years. Its location made it a gateway to the west and one of the most important nineteenth-century ports of entry.
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 73001227, listed July 16, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2245 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Niagara County |
| Listed | July 16, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001227 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th and 20th centuries (specific date 1863) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as good and altered. The building is vacant except for a customs office on the second floor, southeast corner. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.10970, -79.05560 (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
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001227.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7889706
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.