United States Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House, Federal courthouse at 3rd Avenue and Union Street, Seattle, United States.
The United States Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House was a three-story Beaux-Arts structure with a U-shaped floor plan and central courtyard. Classical Corinthian columns and walls of pale Tenino sandstone defined its formal government appearance.
Construction took place from 1906 to 1909 under architect James Knox Taylor as Seattle expanded its port operations. The structure was demolished in 1959 to make way for new urban development.
The building served as a working hub where daily visitors handled customs matters, mailed parcels, and conducted legal business. It represented the city's connection to federal authority and international commerce.
The building stood at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Union Street in downtown Seattle, making it easily accessible by foot. Its central location placed it within the heart of the commercial district.
The Tenino sandstone used for its walls came from a local quarry about 60 kilometers south and reflected how the building drew resources from the surrounding region. This material choice connected the structure directly to the Washington landscape.
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