US Post Office-Ithaca
Also known as: Ithaca Post Office
Why it's listed
Ithaca's post office, at 213 N. Tioga Street, is a limestone-clad building of one and one-half stories on a granite base. Designed by Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor and built in 1909-10, it shows five arched openings divided by paired engaged Ionic columns, a carved frieze, and a balustraded cornice. Its design was modeled on Hardouin-Mansart's Grand Trianon at Versailles, seen in the symmetrical massing, console keystones, paired Ionic columns and roof balustrade. A compatible five-bay brick extension was added in 1935-6. Inside, the lobby has a ribbed barrel-vaulted ceiling, green-veined white marble walls and terrazzo floors. Congress authorized the building in 1902, and it was one of eight New York post offices approved under that act. It is valued as a sophisticated example of Taylor's return to classical forms in federal architecture, and the exterior and much of the interior remain largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of classically inspired public architecture in New York State, adapting late seventeenth century French Baroque design. It represents the work of Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor, who brought classical and Renaissance forms to federal buildings. It retains a high degree of integrity.
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 88002514, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 213 N. Tioga St., Ithaca |
|---|---|
| County | Tompkins County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002514 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1910; 1935-6 |
| Architect / builder | James Knox Taylor |
| Architectural style | Classically inspired, adapted from late seventeenth century French Baroque (modeled on the Grand Trianon at Versailles) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed condition is good and the building is occupied and in use by the U.S. Postal Service; the exterior remains almost exactly as originally completed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | De Witt Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.44114, -76.49626 (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 88002514.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890976
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.