U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
a.k.a. Federal Building
304 E. Broadway, Bismarck, NDThe Bismarck Federal Building is significant as one of the last works by James Knox Taylor for the Treasury Department. Taylor served as Supervising Architect for the Department from 1897-1912 and designed many post office buildings across the country.
The significance of this building locally derives from its function as a public statement of the Federal Government's presence in the city and state. As such, its fine architectural qualities and uniqueness as an example of the Second Renaissance Revival distinguish it from the rest of the town. The Federal Building serves as a visual focus at the west end of the new pedestrian mall at the center of the city.
Moreover, because Bismarck is built on a sloping embankment of the Missouri River, the building's red tile roof can be clearly seen from the south and presents an interesting juxtaposition with the 1906 Spanish Revival Northern Pacific Depot (designed by Reed and Stem).
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.