US Post Office and Federal Building-Zanesville
Why it's listed
Occupying the corner of Fifth and South Streets in downtown Zanesville, this 2 1/2-story post office and federal building was designed by Cleveland architect George F. Hammond and built of large cut sandstone blocks between 1905 and 1906. Its Beaux Arts character shows in a projecting entrance pavilion with paired Corinthian columns and pilasters, a skylit postal lobby, quoins, garlands, swags and a full entablature beneath a tall parapet. A rear work room was added in 1928, and a 1931 wing designed by Washington architect G.L. Rodier extended the building along Fifth Street. Inside, local clay products are prominent, including terra cotta floor tile from Ludowici-Celadon and faience tiles from the Mosaic Tile Company of Zanesville. The building went up when the city's tile, pottery and brick industries were thriving. It was listed for its architecture, as the only public building in Zanesville in the Beaux Arts style and a showcase of local materials.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of Beaux Arts architecture in Zanesville, with no other public building in the city built in that style. Its interior also displays terra cotta and art tile from local manufacturers, reflecting the area's early 20th-century clay industries. It also reflects the federal idea that public buildings should be monumental and built of durable materials.
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 88000071, listed February 11, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 65 S. Fifth St., Zanesville |
|---|---|
| County | Muskingum County |
| Listed | February 11, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000071 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904-1906, 1928, 1931 |
| Architect / builder | George F. Hammond, architect (1904-1906); G.L. Rodier, architect (1931) |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with a high degree of integrity; still used as a post office. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Muskingum River Navigation Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.93923, -82.00690 (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 88000071.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891126
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.