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United States Custom House (Baltimore)

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68: 711: 300: 921: 931: 287:. Over 1,500 buildings were destroyed, and the Custom House suffered major damage. Many of the granite blocks had been split by the heat. These had to be removed and replaced in what proved to be a difficult and costly process. The structure's northwest corner was almost entirely rebuilt. Despite this setback, construction continued, and the building was completed and occupied at the end of 1907. 718: 260:, (1764-1820), in an H-shaped structure and constructed in 1816–1820, the Merchant's Exchange Building was the largest domed building of its kind in America and a landmark of the city symbolizing its commercial importance. It continued to house the U.S. Customs Service, along with the U.S. Courthouse for District and Circuit Court of Appeals, Post Office and a branch of the 356:
The west (Commerce Street) side of the building reveals an "E-shaped" plan. The double-story Call Room pavilion forms the middle arm of the "E" and is on axis with the entrance. Rusticated corners flank a five-bay window arcade. The window spandrels are decorated with carvings depicting sea monsters,
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and separate wings for the first City Hall and another for offices of shipping companies, brokers, attorneys and related maritime businesses through the end of the 19th century. In April 1865, the rotunda was the site of a viewing ceremony during the long procession winding through the downtown city
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From the time of its completion, the Custom House was widely praised as a triumph of both design and workmanship. In 1908, the American Architect and Building News declared, "The result achieved by the intelligent cooperation of architect and artist stamps Baltimore's new Custom House as among the
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The main lobby has a marble floor with an inlaid brass compass design. The walls are paneled with variegated marble. The lobby is flanked by elevators and stairhalls, with marble stairs and ornamental iron and brass railings. A narrow corridor connects the lobby to the historic Call Room where
346:, flanking the recessed window bays. Alternating segmental and triangular pediments carried on consoles top the second-story windows. The smooth columns support a full entablature and roof balustrade, which wrap around the building and conceal the attic story and flat roof. 965: 311:, on a gently sloping site bounded by Gay, Lombard, and Water Streets. The six-story building, 92 feet high from base to roof balustrade, displays an axial symmetry and imposing presence characteristic of the Beaux-Arts style. The building's architects, 247:
and named Baltimore as one of 59 collection districts. The first Baltimore custom house was at the intersection of South Gay between East Lombard and Water Streets, across from the present location. Around 1820 the government began to rent a wing of the
809: 814: 824: 884: 869: 739: 342:. The primary facade fronts Gay Street. A smooth-faced basement level (extending from grade up to a watertable course) rises to a heavily rusticated first floor. The second through fourth stories are articulated by three-story engaged 879: 874: 834: 804: 774: 844: 779: 744: 839: 819: 754: 734: 648: 789: 784: 769: 759: 749: 829: 794: 901: 764: 799: 995: 864: 212:, United States. It is a granite, steel-frame structure measuring 252 feet 8 inches (77.01 m) by 139 feet 6 inches (42.52 m). It is an exceptionally distinguished example of 291:
most successful public buildings erected in this country." Today the Custom House remains an outstanding interpretation of the Beaux-Arts vision and a monument to the dignity of the federal government.
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In 1900 the Treasury Department held a design competition for Baltimore's third custom house. It was to be built on the site of the famed Merchant's Exchange. The winning entry was by the prominent
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shells, and other nautical ornamentation that reflect the Custom House's proximity to Baltimore's Inner Harbor. A balustraded parapet shields the copper-clad roof of the pavilion.
599: 249: 700: 690: 438:, a prominent American muralist of the period. Millet died just a few years after these murals were completed, perishing along with over 1,500 others in the sinking of the 98: 283:
The building's cornerstone was laid on June 13, 1903, in a ceremony attended by several hundred people. On February 7–8, 1904 as construction neared the third floor, a
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In the 18th and 19th centuries, Baltimore flourished as one of the nation's major commercial ports, its economy growing as foreign trade increased. In 1789, the
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on the east wall, and the borders of the ceiling panel depict the evolution of navigation. They portray over 125 vessels, from ancient Egyptian ships to the
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with wrought-iron lamp standards with lamps resembling 18th century ship's stern lanterns. The entrance doors are protected behind wrought-iron grillework.
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1816-1820: The Merchant's Exchange Building, designed by Maximilian Godefroy and Benjamin H. Latrobe, is constructed; one wing is used for Customs Service.
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and the experiences of their European tours to apply French academic planning and organizational principles to American civic architecture.
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The Call Room is the Custom House's most impressive, and historically significant, space. The walls have paired
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1903: The cornerstone of the present-day Custom House is laid on the former site of the Exchange Building.
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1904: A devastating fire ravages a seventy-block area of Baltimore, damaging the unfinished Custom House.
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1789: The U.S. Customs Service is established, and Baltimore is named as one of 59 collection districts.
420: 379:. The paneled cove rises to the central ceiling panel, measuring 63 feet by 30 feet, and adorned with a 316: 270: 17: 435: 408: 284: 221: 448:
After four years of renovation and modernization work, the Custom House formally reopened in 1997.
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as later his decorated train traveled through the Northern States back to his home in
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The steel structure and masonry bearing walls are faced with granite quarried near
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1900: Hornblower and Marshall are selected as architects for the new Custom House.
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1997: The Custom House is formally reopened after a four-year renovation project.
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1972: The building is designated one of America's twelve Historic Custom Houses.
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Government buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Baltimore
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The Gay Street entrance is approached by marble steps that are flanked by
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The U.S. Custom House in Baltimore is located two blocks north of the
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Milner, John D., National Heritage Corporation (June 22, 1973).
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Custom houses on the National Register of Historic Places
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Category:National Register of Historic Places in Maryland
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and was built from 1903 through late 1907 from plans by
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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U.S. Custom House, Baltimore, MD: Building Overview
191: 183: 178: 165: 155: 145: 137: 129: 92: 81: 285:catastrophic fire swept through downtown Baltimore 642: 8: 563:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 935:Portal:National Register of Historic Places 649: 635: 627: 252:to house the Customs Service. Designed by 66: 658:U.S. National Register of Historic Places 327:. They used Hornblower's training at the 46:U.S. National Register of Historic Places 537:United States Department of the Interior 478:1974: The Custom House is listed in the 319:(1851–1927), began their careers in the 265:streets for assassinated 16th President 976:1900s architecture in the United States 495: 407:entering the harbor. The panels of the 18:U.S. Custom House (Baltimore, Maryland) 971:Government buildings completed in 1903 594: 556: 501: 499: 29: 991:Neoclassical architecture in Maryland 592: 590: 588: 586: 584: 582: 580: 578: 576: 574: 7: 512:National Register of Historic Places 480:National Register of Historic Places 434:. All of the murals were painted by 229:National Register of Historic Places 227:U.S. Custom House was listed on the 986:Beaux-Arts architecture in Maryland 321:Office of the Supervising Architect 956:Custom houses in the United States 25: 621:U.S. Custom House, Baltimore City 280:firm of Hornblower and Marshall. 929: 920: 919: 716: 709: 472:1907: Construction is completed. 981:1903 establishments in Maryland 167: 1: 245:United States Customs Service 532:"United States Custom House" 361:customs revenues were paid. 250:Merchants' Exchange Building 27:United States historic place 907:National Historic Landmarks 1017: 340:Mount Airy, North Carolina 915: 707: 262:Bank of the United States 166:NRHP reference  150:Hornblower & Marshall 77: 65: 61: 52: 43: 36: 32: 1001:Baltimore City Landmarks 426:of 1907, accompanied by 156:Architectural style 600:"GSA - Find a Building" 545:. National Park Service 218:Hornblower and Marshall 214:Beaux Arts architecture 114:39.288167°N 76.609056°W 55:Baltimore City Landmark 681:Keeper of the Register 304: 258:Benjamin Henry Latrobe 254:J. Maximilian Godefroy 72:Baltimore Custom House 696:National Park Service 676:Contributing property 541:National Park Service 517:National Park Service 302: 271:Springfield, Illinois 133:1 acre (0.40 ha) 119:39.288167; -76.609056 436:Francis Davis Millet 385:Entering the Harbour 329:École des Beaux-Arts 313:Joseph C. Hornblower 222:Francis Davis Millet 208:building located at 885:South and Southeast 870:North and Northwest 325:Treasury Department 241:First U.S. Congress 210:Baltimore, Maryland 192:Designated BCL 110: /  87:Baltimore, Maryland 961:Downtown Baltimore 880:East and Northeast 875:West and Southwest 452:Significant events 317:John Rush Marshall 305: 943: 942: 686:Historic district 519:. April 15, 2008. 202:U.S. Custom House 199: 198: 187:February 15, 1974 179:Significant dates 38:U.S. Custom House 16:(Redirected from 1008: 933: 923: 922: 745:Baltimore County 720: 719: 713: 712: 651: 644: 637: 628: 608: 607: 596: 569: 568: 562: 554: 552: 550: 527: 521: 520: 503: 336:Laurel, Maryland 315:(1848–1908) and 278:Washington, D.C. 243:established the 235:Building history 169: 125: 124: 122: 121: 120: 115: 111: 108: 107: 106: 103: 70: 30: 21: 1016: 1015: 1011: 1010: 1009: 1007: 1006: 1005: 946: 945: 944: 939: 911: 890: 849: 810:Prince George's 727: 721: 717: 715: 714: 710: 705: 664: 655: 617: 612: 611: 598: 597: 572: 555: 548: 546: 529: 528: 524: 505: 504: 497: 492: 454: 375:with a paneled 297: 267:Abraham Lincoln 237: 118: 116: 112: 109: 104: 101: 99: 97: 96: 85:40 S. Gay St., 73: 57: 48: 39: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1014: 1012: 1004: 1003: 998: 993: 988: 983: 978: 973: 968: 963: 958: 948: 947: 941: 940: 938: 937: 927: 916: 913: 912: 910: 909: 904: 898: 896: 892: 891: 889: 888: 882: 877: 872: 867: 857: 855: 851: 850: 848: 847: 842: 837: 832: 827: 822: 817: 812: 807: 802: 797: 792: 787: 782: 777: 772: 767: 762: 757: 752: 747: 742: 737: 731: 729: 723: 722: 708: 706: 704: 703: 701:Property types 698: 693: 688: 683: 678: 672: 670: 666: 665: 656: 654: 653: 646: 639: 631: 625: 624: 616: 615:External links 613: 610: 609: 570: 522: 494: 493: 491: 488: 487: 486: 483: 476: 473: 470: 467: 464: 461: 458: 453: 450: 430:'s yacht, the 371:supporting an 296: 293: 236: 233: 204:is a historic 197: 196: 193: 189: 188: 185: 181: 180: 176: 175: 170: 163: 162: 157: 153: 152: 147: 143: 142: 139: 135: 134: 131: 127: 126: 94: 90: 89: 83: 79: 78: 75: 74: 71: 63: 62: 59: 58: 53: 50: 49: 44: 41: 40: 37: 34: 33: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1013: 1002: 999: 997: 994: 992: 989: 987: 984: 982: 979: 977: 974: 972: 969: 967: 964: 962: 959: 957: 954: 953: 951: 936: 932: 928: 926: 918: 917: 914: 908: 905: 903: 900: 899: 897: 893: 886: 883: 881: 878: 876: 873: 871: 868: 866: 862: 859: 858: 856: 854:Lists by city 852: 846: 843: 841: 838: 836: 833: 831: 828: 826: 823: 821: 818: 816: 813: 811: 808: 806: 803: 801: 798: 796: 793: 791: 788: 786: 783: 781: 778: 776: 773: 771: 768: 766: 763: 761: 758: 756: 753: 751: 748: 746: 743: 741: 738: 736: 733: 732: 730: 724: 702: 699: 697: 694: 692: 689: 687: 684: 682: 679: 677: 674: 673: 671: 667: 663: 659: 652: 647: 645: 640: 638: 633: 632: 629: 622: 619: 618: 614: 605: 601: 595: 593: 591: 589: 587: 585: 583: 581: 579: 577: 575: 571: 566: 560: 544: 542: 538: 533: 526: 523: 518: 514: 513: 508: 502: 500: 496: 489: 484: 481: 477: 474: 471: 468: 465: 462: 459: 456: 455: 451: 449: 446: 444: 443: 437: 433: 429: 425: 424: 418: 414: 410: 406: 402: 398: 394: 390: 386: 382: 378: 374: 370: 367: 362: 358: 354: 352: 347: 345: 344:Ionic columns 341: 337: 332: 330: 326: 322: 318: 314: 310: 301: 294: 292: 288: 286: 281: 279: 274: 272: 268: 263: 259: 255: 251: 246: 242: 234: 232: 230: 225: 223: 219: 215: 211: 207: 203: 194: 190: 186: 184:Added to NRHP 182: 177: 174: 171: 164: 161: 158: 154: 151: 148: 144: 140: 136: 132: 128: 123: 95: 91: 88: 84: 80: 76: 69: 64: 60: 56: 51: 47: 42: 35: 31: 19: 815:Queen Anne's 740:Anne Arundel 603: 547:. Retrieved 535: 525: 510: 447: 441: 431: 428:J. P. Morgan 422: 384: 363: 359: 355: 348: 333: 309:Inner Harbor 306: 295:Architecture 289: 282: 275: 273:for burial. 238: 226: 206:custom house 201: 200: 105:76°36′32.6″W 102:39°17′17.4″N 895:Other lists 397:barquentine 373:entablature 117: / 93:Coordinates 950:Categories 835:Washington 825:St. Mary's 805:Montgomery 775:Dorchester 490:References 423:Mauretania 160:Beaux-arts 861:Baltimore 845:Worcester 780:Frederick 728:by county 549:April 16, 445:in 1912. 383:entitled 369:pilasters 303:Call Room 231:in 1974. 146:Architect 141:1903–1907 840:Wicomico 820:Somerset 755:Caroline 735:Allegany 662:Maryland 559:cite web 417:lunettes 405:schooner 403:, and a 173:74002217 82:Location 902:Bridges 865:Central 790:Harford 785:Garrett 770:Charles 760:Carroll 750:Calvert 442:Titanic 440:R.M.S. 432:Corsair 421:R.M.S. 415:, five 351:plinths 323:of the 830:Talbot 795:Howard 669:Topics 413:frieze 389:whaler 377:frieze 338:, and 765:Cecil 726:Lists 393:barks 381:mural 366:Ionic 138:Built 800:Kent 565:link 551:2021 411:and 409:cove 401:brig 399:, a 395:, a 195:1977 130:Area 863:: ( 660:in 168:No. 952:: 602:. 573:^ 561:}} 557:{{ 539:: 534:. 515:. 509:. 498:^ 391:, 887:) 650:e 643:t 636:v 567:) 553:. 482:. 20:)

Index

U.S. Custom House (Baltimore, Maryland)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Baltimore City Landmark

Baltimore, Maryland
39°17′17.4″N 76°36′32.6″W / 39.288167°N 76.609056°W / 39.288167; -76.609056
Hornblower & Marshall
Beaux-arts
74002217
custom house
Baltimore, Maryland
Beaux Arts architecture
Hornblower and Marshall
Francis Davis Millet
National Register of Historic Places
First U.S. Congress
United States Customs Service
Merchants' Exchange Building
J. Maximilian Godefroy
Benjamin Henry Latrobe
Bank of the United States
Abraham Lincoln
Springfield, Illinois
Washington, D.C.
catastrophic fire swept through downtown Baltimore

Inner Harbor
Joseph C. Hornblower
John Rush Marshall
Office of the Supervising Architect

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