July 9th, 2013
A visit to the Historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House.
The Customs House is today the Museum of the American Indian but we were more interested in the original building, built between 1902 and 1907.
There are guided visits every day at 1pm. The day we went, there was a sign, NO VISITS. However, a very nice and extremely knowledgeable gentleman offered to give the tour, being that the usual guide was sick.
The tour is well worth taking, it was very interesting, covering the building and architecture, the workings of customs in the long ago days, different types of marble, reception room and office for the Customs official, the New York branch of the National Archives, lavish sculptures, paintings, and decorations by well-known artists of the time and much more.
A very impressive reception room for the Senior Customs Official
We also visited the New York branch of the National Archives and found the following fascinating items:
A visit to the Historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House.
The Customs House is today the Museum of the American Indian but we were more interested in the original building, built between 1902 and 1907.
There are guided visits every day at 1pm. The day we went, there was a sign, NO VISITS. However, a very nice and extremely knowledgeable gentleman offered to give the tour, being that the usual guide was sick.
The tour is well worth taking, it was very interesting, covering the building and architecture, the workings of customs in the long ago days, different types of marble, reception room and office for the Customs official, the New York branch of the National Archives, lavish sculptures, paintings, and decorations by well-known artists of the time and much more.
Marble from Switzerland, above, reflecting the color of dollar bills, and marble from Italy, below, marble from
Vermont, white, golden from France and so on.
We also visited the New York branch of the National Archives and found the following fascinating items:
Asking for a good place for lunch in the neighborhood we were directed to Stone Str. and what a discovery that was. Tables on the street from a variety of different restaurants. Should be great for happy hour.
The place we went to was Le Financier, very good.
