US Post Office-Mount Vernon
Also known as: Mount Vernon Post Office
Why it's listed
Built between 1915 and 1917 at 15 South First Street, the Mount Vernon Post Office is a monumental, two-story Neoclassical building clad in smooth coursed limestone. Six Ionic semi-engaged columns frame the central pavilion, and a carved frieze bears the words United States Post Office. Wings added in 1936, during the public building programs of the Great Depression, match the original materials and design. Inside, the main lobby keeps its coffered plaster ceiling, marble and terrazzo floors, and bronze customer tables. Designed under Supervising Architect Oscar Wenderoth, the building was among the last New York post offices constructed before Treasury Department designs were standardized in 1915. Its restrained ornament and broad smooth surfaces reflect a move toward stripped-down classicism. Its location near the railroad station and across from the earlier Neoclassical public library reflects the planned character of the city, which applied City Beautiful principles to its public buildings. The building cost $95,607 and opened in December 1917.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of an early twentieth-century public building in New York State and an important example of Neoclassical design for federal buildings. It was among the last New York post offices built before Treasury Department designs were standardized in 1915. Its smooth limestone surfaces and sparse ornamentation foreshadow the more austere classicism of later 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 88002355, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 15 S. First St., Mount Vernon |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002355 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-7 |
| Architect / builder | Oscar Wenderoth, Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and occupied; the exterior and interior retain a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.91110, -73.83343 (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 88002355.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891005
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.