US Post Office-Troy
Also known as: Troy Post Office
Why it's listed
Located at 400 Broadway in downtown Troy, this two-story post office was designed in 1936 by the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury under Louis A. Simon and completed in 1938. Its steel frame is clad in limestone, with two-story pilasters on the Broadway and Fourth Street facades, rusticated end bays and carved stars-and-stripes ornament. The style is a streamlined Classical Revival with Greek Revival roots and echoes of 1930s Modernism. It replaced an 1894 Romanesque federal building with a clock tower, which was demolished despite public objection. The project was authorized to help relieve Depression-era unemployment. Inside, the public lobbies keep original marble, terrazzo and plaster features, along with many teller windows. Two murals by Waldo Pierce, "Rip Van Winkle" and "Legends of the Hudson," were painted in 1938 for the Treasury's Section of Fine Arts. The building is significant for its architecture and its art, and it remains in use as a post office.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of 1930s federal architecture in New York State, built in a stripped-down Classical Revival style with streamlined ornament. It is also notable as a work of the Supervising Architect's own office rather than consulting architects. Its lobby holds two 1938 murals by Waldo Pierce, painted for the Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts.
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 88002438, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 400 Broadway, Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002438 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates 1938; 1939) |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival ("stripped-down" Classical Revival with Greek Revival inspiration and Modernist influences) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and occupied; it serves as a government post office, with some modern alterations such as a lobby vestibule, a fire escape and a vehicular ramp. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Central Troy Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.73142, -73.68863 (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 88002438.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q387681
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.