Old Galveston Customhouse
Why it's listed
Built between 1858 and 1861 at the southeast corner of 20th and Post Office Streets in Galveston, this two-story brick building was designed as a federal custom house in the late Greek Revival style. It is a rectangular structure with a projecting double gallery on the west and inset double galleries on the north and south sides. Nearly all of its detail is cast iron, including columns, cornices, balustrades, dentils, entablatures and window architraves. The pieces follow the original architect's drawings and were cast in New York and shipped to Galveston. Ionic columns rise on the first story and Corinthian capitals on the second. Ammi B. Young, the first supervising architect of the Treasury Department's office of construction, produced the plans. Charles B. Cluskey and E.W. Moore served as contractors. Galveston was the leading seaport and commercial city in Texas in the 1800s, and most imported goods entered the state through it. At listing the building held post office space, offices and a federal courtroom.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it architecturally distinguished for its fine scale and proportion and its nearly all cast-iron detailing. It is also historically important because Galveston was the leading seaport and commercial city in Texas in the 19th century. Its designer, Ammi B. Young, was the first supervising architect of the U.S. Treasury Department, and its contractors were notable figures.
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 70000747, listed August 25, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE corner 20th and Post Office (Ave. E) Sts., Galveston |
|---|---|
| County | Galveston County |
| Listed | August 25, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000747 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1858-61 (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Ammi B. Young, architect of the original plans; Charles B. Cluskey and E.W. Moore, contractors |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and noted as altered; the Post Office occupied the western half of the ground floor, offices the east half, and the Federal Courtroom the upper eastern half. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 29.30533, -94.78989 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 70000747.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7889719
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.