U.S. Customhouse
San Jacinto at Rusk St., Houston, TXThe original portion of the 1911 United States Customs House is typical of the straight-fronted, massive buildings that were being constructed by the federal government under the supervision of James Knox Taylor, Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department.
The original portion of the building is an outstanding example of the Second Renaissance Revival style of architecture with its horizontal rustication at the ground story and simple massing of the floors above. The projecting entranceways which terminate at the decorated pediment and the balustraded parapet further qualify the strong expression of the architectural style.
The building was originally constructed as a post office and court building and was greatly expanded in 1931 in the style of the original structure to provide space for additional federal offices. When it was built the original structure was the only monumental building representative of the Second Renaissance Revival style in Houston and remains the singular most significant building of that architectural style. The presence of the structure in the downtown area among numerous highrise contemporary buildings contributes greatly to the overall architectural fabric of the rapidly changing downtown area.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
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.