U.S. Custom House
U.S. Custom House
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4.0
16 reviews
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5
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9
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2
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0
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0
Lolly’s Look
New York City, NY15,010 contributions
Oct 2020
The US customs house in the Charleston Historic District of Charleston is an impressive building. Construction started before the civil war and was halted during the war. It was completed in 1893.
Written 31 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rfuchs0917
Jacksonville, FL836 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
Our group walked past this building and it is a LOVELY building - you can easily get very nice photos as well!
Written 18 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tciwater
Stuart, FL379 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
Not sure about what the building is all about, and didn’t go in, if you can. But it is a cool building to look at. Also a great building to get exercise on the stairs if you so choose.😊
Written 11 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaptTrouble
Hudson, WI7,904 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
This is a huge and impressive piece of 19th Century Classical Revival architecture on the Charleston waterfront (the front is on East Bay Street). It is in a main walking area on East Bay Street so you can hardly miss it. And, if you are walking on the backside near the harbor, you will note that a LOT of people sit on the steps to rest, especially when a cruise ship docks.
The U.S. Custom Service needed a new building in the mid-1800's and so, Congress appropriated the money for it in 1847. The site was purchased in 1849 for $130,000. Supervising Architect of The Treasury Ammi B. Young incorporated elements from submitted plans and came up with this design. (Young also designed the Boston U.S. Custom House and the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) Custom House.)
Construction began in 1853. By 1859 the walls and Corinthian columns were built but Congress, being concerned about a possible civil war and South Carolina's secession from the Union, did not appropriate further funds to complete it. The building sustained significant damage during the shelling of Charleston in the U.S. Civil War. In 1870 work resumed under revised plans and the building was completed and occupied at a cost of $2.8 Million 9 years later.
In 1956 the building was going to be demolished. Due to a public outcry, the government raised the funds in 1960 to save it. That year, the building was included in the Charleston Historic District, a part of the first group of National Historic Landmarks in the United States. It was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
The U.S. Custom Service needed a new building in the mid-1800's and so, Congress appropriated the money for it in 1847. The site was purchased in 1849 for $130,000. Supervising Architect of The Treasury Ammi B. Young incorporated elements from submitted plans and came up with this design. (Young also designed the Boston U.S. Custom House and the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) Custom House.)
Construction began in 1853. By 1859 the walls and Corinthian columns were built but Congress, being concerned about a possible civil war and South Carolina's secession from the Union, did not appropriate further funds to complete it. The building sustained significant damage during the shelling of Charleston in the U.S. Civil War. In 1870 work resumed under revised plans and the building was completed and occupied at a cost of $2.8 Million 9 years later.
In 1956 the building was going to be demolished. Due to a public outcry, the government raised the funds in 1960 to save it. That year, the building was included in the Charleston Historic District, a part of the first group of National Historic Landmarks in the United States. It was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Written 20 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,508 contributions
Sept 2021
At first sight, it reminds me of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington DC. Located at 200 East Bay Street, the U.S. Custom House is the grandest building in Charleston, South Carolina, a city filled with magnificent architecture and grand buildings dating to the colonial and antebellum periods. Construction of the U.S. Custom House began in 1952, was interrupted in 1859 due to costs, South Carolina's secession from the Union and the impending Civil War, then restarted in 1870 and completed in 1879. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Built in the Early Republic and Roman Revival style and resembling the Boston Custom House, the two-story, cross-shaped building with an elevated, rusticated basement, Roman porticos on the east and west sides, fluted Corinthian limestone columns and marble-faced walls also features skylights that cover an inside patio, rectangular windows with pediments and a low roof with an open balustrade. One of the properties that contribute to the Charleston Historic District, it is hard to imagine that in the 1960s the U.S. Custom House was threatened with demolition. However, local preservationists worked to save the building.
Written 21 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The World is My Oyster
Orlando, FL21,657 contributions
May 2020 • Friends
This building is one of the most beautiful building that I've seen in Charleston. Obviously, this is a subjective opinion, but I truly believe it should have more reviews. Definitely a must see in this beautiful charming city!
Written 6 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,539 contributions
Nov 2019
This big impressive classic building is well exposed as there is nothing around it. So everyone take a photo, We did not go in.
Written 3 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
parrottdize
Dyer, IN2,375 contributions
Jul 2019
Easy to see from your cruise ship. And if your walking around the town, just head towards this building to find your way back to the ship.
While we did not go into this building, we did spend some time looking at it.
While we did not go into this building, we did spend some time looking at it.
Written 16 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
agusticassa
Girona, Spain1,484 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
he magnificent neoclassical building of 6 + 6 columns with Corinthian stylel is of great beauty, although unfortunately it was not open at the time I was visiting.
Written 30 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry W
Rochester, NY19,377 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
This is a very large stone building that is very representative of the intricate architecture of the area. The Corinthian columns on the building are very impressive. It is probably possible to get inside, but we didn't have time to do so. Still, it's a great sight from the public market, and I enjoyed it.
Written 18 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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