Old Central Post Office
Also known as: Toledo Board of Education Vocational Rehabilitation Center
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Why it's listed
Occupying a full city block between Madison and Jefferson Avenues in downtown Toledo, this former Central Post Office was built after the federal government bought the site in 1907 for $135,000. Construction began in 1909 on a $550,000 building designed by government architect J. Knox Taylor, and the cornerstone was laid on August 19, 1909. The 302-by-146-foot structure was finished in 1911, and the post office moved in that December. Its 13th Street facade features an engaged Doric colonnade, a balustrade above the entablature, paired Doric columns at the entrances, and a pediment carrying the United States eagle. A central hall rises above the walls with the round arches of a Roman basilica, and the copper roof is ornamented with anthemia. The federal government declared the building surplus in 1965, and it was donated to the Toledo Board of Education, which converted the mail room into classrooms. It is valued as an accomplished example of classical government architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent example of turn-of-the-century classical governmental architecture. Although this derivative classical style is not uncommon, the building is described as one of the more accomplished designs and a distinct contribution to Toledo's architectural scene.
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 72001030, listed February 23, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 13th St. between Madison and Jefferson Aves., Toledo |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Listed | February 23, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001030 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911 |
| Architect / builder | J. Knox Taylor, government architect |
| Architectural style | Early 20th century governmental classical style, based on Greek and Roman elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and the building is occupied. It was declared federal surplus in 1965 and donated to the Toledo Board of Education, and interior conversion to classrooms was under way when the form was prepared. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Uptown Toledo Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.65481, -83.54397 (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 72001030.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6175384
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.