Charlotte center city in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Mint Building

Charles R. Jonas Federal Building

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, September 1, 2023

1. Mint Building Marker

Inscription.
Here stood the first branch Mint of the United States. Built in 1836, the Mint was an imposing Classical Revival style building designed by renowned architect, William F. Strickland, it burned to the ground on July 27, 1844, but was reconstructed largely in keeping with Strickland's original design and reopened on October 1, 1846. The footprint of the original Mint is outlined in granite pavers on the front lawn of the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building. The Mint produced over five million dollars of gold currency through 1861, when North Carolina seceded from the Union. After the war, the Mint reopened as a US Assay Office. In 1891, a Romanesque Revival Post Office and Courthouse opened beside the Mint on the southwest portion of the site. In 1913, the assay functions were discontinued, and the 1891 Post Office was razed. On that site, the government built a new Post Office facility in 1916, the first portion of which would eventually become the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building. When the expansion of the new Post Office threatened the Mint, the citizens of Charlotte financed the relocation of the foundation of the structure

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to the Eastover neighborhood, where it was rebuilt and opened as the Mint Museum of Art in 1936.

The 1934 addition to the Post Office—constructed in the Classical Revival style—tripled the size of the structure and reoriented the main axis of the building north to front on Trade Street. The structure that stands here today—the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building, formerly known as the United States Post Office and Courthouse—is one of the few historically significant structures remaining in Charlotte's central business district.

Image courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. 35° 13.781′ N, 80° 50.785′ W. Marker is in Charlotte, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. It is in Charlotte center city. It is at the intersection of West Trade Street and South Mint Street, on the right when traveling east on West Trade Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 West Trade Street, Charlotte NC 28202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, September 1, 2023

2. Mint Building Marker

The Mint Building Marker is the one on the right.

this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shipp Monument (here, next to this marker); Site of the U.S. Branch Mint (a few steps from this marker); Branch U.S. Mint (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bagley-Mullen House (about 700 feet away); Captain James Jack Homesite (about 700 feet away); First Presbyterian Church (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named First Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Cemetery Historic Grave Yard of Charlotte's First Settlers (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlotte.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Mrs. "Stonewall Jackson" 1831-1915 (was about 400

Charlotte Mint image. Click for full size.

Bob Merchant Collection of U.S. Numismatic Postcard, 1907

3. Charlotte Mint

Second Charlotte Mint 1907. CCo

feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Charlotte Mint. Excerpt:

On March 3, 1835, the United States Congress approved an Act 115 to 60 to establish several branch mints; the act stated, "...one branch [to be established] at the town of Charlotte, in Mecklenburg County, in the state of North Carolina, for the coinage of gold only...And for the purpose of purchasing sites, erecting suitable buildings, and completing the necessary combinations of machinery...for the branch at Charlotte, fifty thousand dollars". This Act also authorized mints at Dahlonega, Georgia, and New Orleans, Louisiana, after President Andrew Jackson signed it into law.

(Submitted on September 24, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Charles R. Jonas Federal Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, September 1, 2023

4. Charles R. Jonas Federal Building

This is the federal building discussed on the marker which sits on the land formerly occupied by the Charlotte Mint.

Mint Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, August 30, 2023

5. Mint Building

The Mint Building was relocated to this location in 1936 and became the Mint Museum, a gallery for art.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 345 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 24, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.