US Post Office-Long Island City
Also known as: Long Island City Post Office
Why it's listed
Occupying an entire block in Long Island City, Queens, this two-story brick post office with limestone trim was designed in 1928 and opened in 1929. Murch Brothers Construction Company of St. Louis built it under the Treasury's Supervising Architect's office, led by James A. Wetmore, though the design is probably the work of Louis A. Simon. A four-column Ionic portico with a pedimented entablature marks the fifteen-bay front, and three sets of bronze doors with Greek fret surrounds and Grecian-style lampposts add detail. Limestone pilasters, cornice and balustrade complete the Colonial Revival design. It is described as the largest post office facility built in New York City during the 1920s and as similar to several later Queens post offices, including Flushing and Jamaica. The exterior keeps its integrity, although the original windows were replaced with aluminum sash. Inside, the long public lobby retains plaster, marble and bronze details, including a panelled ceiling with Greek fret borders.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinguished large-scale example of a Colonial Revival public building in New York State and the largest post office facility built in New York City in the 1920s. Its monumental intact entrance portico, limestone detailing, bronze doors and Grecian lampposts are highlighted. It may also have served as a model for later Queens 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 88002348, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 46-02 21st St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002348 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-9 |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore, Supervising Architect (probably designed by Louis A. Simon); built by Murch Brothers Construction Company of St. Louis, Missouri |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked as occupied, in government use; exterior retains integrity, interior to a lesser degree, with replaced windows and an altered screenline. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74573, -73.94862 (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 88002348.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890996
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.