United States Post Office–Bronx Central Annex, historic post office in the Bronx, New York
The United States Post Office–Bronx Central Annex is a large government building completed in 1937 that occupies an entire city block on Grand Concourse. It features four stories with a facade of gray brick and marble accents, flanked by two sculptures at the main entrance depicting a letter and a messenger.
The building was constructed during the 1930s as the Bronx grew rapidly and needed improved postal services, opening in 1937 under architect Thomas Harlan Ellett. It was part of the New Deal public works programs and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, with its interior gaining landmark status in 2013.
The building's name reflects its role as the central hub for the Bronx, serving as a gathering point where residents have sent mail and stayed connected for decades. The interior murals celebrate labor and American workers, making it a place where local history and daily life intersect.
The main entrance is easily accessible from Grand Concourse, and the lobby with its tall spaces and ornate details is open to the public during business hours. The murals inside can be viewed when visiting the working postal facility.
The building houses thirteen murals painted by Ben Shahn and Bernarda Bryson in 1939 depicting American labor and industry, including a scene of Walt Whitman addressing workers. These New Deal-era artworks are remarkable for showing an important chapter of American history through images of craft and human labor.
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