United States Custom House, Court House, and Post Office, Federal building at Canal Street in Near West Side, Chicago, United States.
The United States Custom House, Court House and Post Office is a federal building on Canal Street in Chicago's Near West Side that houses three governmental operations in one structure. The facade features vertical stacks of windows from the 1930s, black granite framing around the main entrance, and decorative eagle bas-reliefs along the roofline.
The structure was built in 1933 to consolidate customs operations, court functions, and postal services in one central location for Chicago. An addition of four stories and a penthouse was completed in 1940 to accommodate growing federal administrative needs.
The building reflects how federal agencies of the 1930s presented themselves through architecture, mixing classical and modern styles to convey strength and order to the public.
The building sits close to the Chicago River and is easily accessible on foot from downtown. The complex contains separate areas for different federal services, so visitors should identify which entrance serves their needs before arriving.
Stone and materials from an earlier Custom House on Dearborn Street were moved to Milwaukee and reused in constructing the Basilica of St. Josaphat. This practice of salvaging materials from one federal building to another shows how resources were carefully managed during that era.
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