Financial District in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Custom House
Opened 1847
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 14, 2021
1. Custom House Marker
In 1835, the U.S. Congress and President Andrew Jackson authorized the purchase of this site for a new Custom House. Ammi Burnham Young, an architect from New Hampshire whose early works included buildings at Dartmouth College and Vermont's State House, entered the Custom House design competition and won with his elegant neoclassical design vision. The Custom House is a monumental Greek Revival building, with a colonnade of 32 fluted columns, each weighing 42 tons and carved from individual blocks of granite. The entire structure is supported by 3,000 wooden piles driven through filled land into bedrock. When more space was needed, the clock tower was added in 1915, bringing the building's total height to 496 feet. It remained Boston's tallest building until 1964. The U.S. Customs Service moved to a new location in 1986, and after an extensive renovation, the Custom House and clock tower were transformed into a Marriott Vacation Club property in 1997. Today, the Custom House remains a jewel of the Boston skyline, beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Erected by Marriott Vacation Club - Pulse at Custom House Boston.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S. Custom House (a few steps from this marker); The Waterfront Then and Now / The Custom House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Custom House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Continental Wingate Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Bill Rodgers (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Arnold "Red" Auerbach (about 300 feet away); Larry "Legend" Bird (about 300 feet away); Flour and Grain Exchange (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 14, 2021
2. Custom House and Marker
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 14, 2021
3. Custom House and Marker
The marker is to the far right in this view of the Custom House and pedestrian-only McKinley Square.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 134 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
