Old Auburn Post Office, historic post office building in Washington state, USA
The Old Auburn Post Office is a brick building constructed in 1855 as part of the James Block, a complex of three connected structures in Auburn. The structure features simple architectural details typical of its era, with solid brickwork and modest proportions.
Mail service began in Auburn in 1849, and the current building opened in 1853 to serve as the town's post office. It remains the oldest operating post office west of the Mississippi River and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
The building served as a gathering point where Auburn residents sent letters and picked up mail, making it a center of community connection. It held significance in daily life before modern communication, helping people stay linked to friends and family across distances.
The building is located in downtown Auburn within walking distance of other historic sites and local shops. While the structure is protected as a historic landmark, visitors can view the exterior and take photographs of its architectural features from the street.
The building once served as a clinic in addition to its postal function, showing how the community adapted historic structures to changing needs. This functional versatility reflects how buildings were repurposed across different eras of town life.
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