Downtown in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Old Post Office
Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 12, 2008
1. Old Post Office Marker
This structure, designed by James A. Wetmore and completed in 1932, is the second post office to occupy this site. Erected at a cost of $3.3 million, the neo-classical building, with its marble halls and paneled court-rooms, contained the most modern equipment for handling the mail, but due to an architect's oversight, it lacked mail chutes.
Besides housing the U.S. courts and other federal agencies, the building once included a soundproof pistol range where Treasury agents practiced. An underground tunnel connected the building to the Federal Reserve Bank across the street.
Through the persistent efforts of Jerome Goldfein, Real Estate Officer for Baltimore City, the federal government was persuaded to give the building to the City in 1979, provided that it be maintained as an historic landmark.
The first post office on this side, completed in 1889, was in the Italian Renaissance style, with a mansard roof and nine decorative towers (below). During the Great Fire of 1904, postal employees withstood immense heat to save the building by dousing its windows with buckets of water.
Erected by the City of Baltimore, William Donald Schaefer, Mayor.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture
this page online
Location. 39° 17.448′ N, 76° 36.732′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Downtown. It is on North Calvert Street (Maryland Route 2), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 North Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Discover Baltimore: The Monumental City (a few steps from this marker); The Battle Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Baltimore City Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Battle Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Battle Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Equitable Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lenore (within shouting distance of this marker); The Munsey Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 7, 2025
2. Old Post Office Marker
The marker has been restored and slightly defaced since the original photo.
Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 12, 2008
3. The Old Post Office
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 27, 2015
4. Old Post Office Marker
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 27, 2015
5. United States Post Office and Court House
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 27, 2015
6. Workers in the 1889 Post Office
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 27, 2015
7. New Post Office and Battle Monument
Image Courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
8. Post Office, Baltimore, MD c. 1903
Library of Congress
9. Monument Square & the 1932 Post Office
North Calvert Street between Fayette & Lexington Streets, Baltimore, Independent City, MD
Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,460 times since then and 109 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 13, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 2. submitted on March 7, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on March 13, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 3, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
