United States Customs House
(National Museum of the American Indian / U.S. Bankruptcy Court)
(NYLPC Landmark)

Status: Inspected but not affected.*

Alexander Hamilton Custom House (National Museum of the American Indian and Federal Bankruptcy Court)/originally U.S. Custom House, 1 Bowling Green, bet. State and Whitehall Sts. to Bridge St. 1899 - 1907.  Cass Gilbert. Sculptures, "Four Continents": E to W: Asia, America, Europe, Africa, Daniel Chester French: Adolph A. Weinman, associate.  Cartouche at 7th-story attic, Karl Bitter.  Rotunda ceiling paintings, 1936-1937, Reginald Marsh.  Partial interior.  Alterations for the National Museum of the American Indian, 1994.  Ehrenkrantz & Ekstut.  Museum open 10-5 daily. 212-514-3700.

One of the city's most splendid Beaux Arts buildings.  The monumental sculptures by French are very much part of the architecture of the façade, their whiteness-and that of those at the attic by other sculptors are a rich counterpoint to the structure's gray granite.

No less grand is the interior, whose giant oval rotunda, embellished by Reginald Marsh's WPA-commissioned murals is the crowning architectural space.  It has remained vacant except for temporary activities since the Customs Service vacated the Custom House in favor of the World Trade Center in 1973.  The Museum of the American Indian has infilled much of these spaces since its installation.

Source: A.I.A Guide To New York City, 4th ed.

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of the American Indian Website

*Status of this building was obtained by matching Building Structural Status map and Smithsonian Institution map. Status may not be accurate, if you know the status of this building, please e-mail webmaster@preserve.org and let us know.