US Post Office-Far Rockaway
Also known as: Far Rockaway Post Office
Why it's listed
Far Rockaway's post office at 18-36 Mott Avenue is a two-story brick building with limestone trim, designed in 1935 and completed in 1936 during the federal public works programs of the Depression. Eric Kebbon, a consulting architect to the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury, drew on Thomas Jefferson's Monticello for its domed polygonal central pavilion, pedimented entrance and symmetrical wings. Red brick laid in Flemish bond and original twelve-over-twelve sash mark the exterior. Inside, a circular vestibule has eight Corinthian columns made of three different marbles, a second-floor balcony and a cantilevered stair with a wrought-iron and bronze railing. Few New York State post offices of the period have such a ceremonial entrance space. The building was listed as a well-preserved, unusual example of 1930s post office design. A 1965 rear annex is excluded from the listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of 1930s post office design and an important work of consulting architect Eric Kebbon. Its Colonial Revival design is modeled on Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, which is unusual for post offices of the period. Its grand domed entrance vestibule and varied marble interior are rare among New York State post offices.
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 88002500, listed November 17, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 18-36 Mott Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | November 17, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002500 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1935-6 |
| Architect / builder | Eric Kebbon, Consulting Architect; Silberblatt and Lasker of New York City (construction contract) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form says the building retains its integrity to a very high degree on both exterior and interior; a 1965 annex at the rear is not part of the nomination. The form marks it as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.60350, -73.75039 (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 88002500.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890946
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.