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Federal Building (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
The Federal Building, also known as the Century Post Office, is a historic building located on Fayetteville Street
in Raleigh
, North Carolina
. It was the first Federal Government
project in the South
following the Civil War
. Construction of the building began in 1874 and was completed in 1878. The building's Second Empire design was by Alfred B. Mullett
whose more famous works included the Old Executive Office Building
located near the White House
. The Federal Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971 and is a Raleigh Historic Landmark.
After completion of the building, local offices of federal agencies, such as the post office
, were located on the first floor. The United States District Court
was located on the second floor and at the time was considered the best fitted courtroom in North Carolina. In 1913, the building was doubled in size to accommodate the effects of city growth. The building was renovated and its original materials and most of its detailing were replicated. In 1939, the building was expanded with the same exterior design being applied to the new addition.
Federal Government agencies grew rapidly after World War II
. Due to this growth, the majority of the offices located in the Federal Building were moved to rented facilities located throughout Raleigh. A new Federal Building was constructed downtown to consolidate the agencies in 1970. The facility also became the new home of the court and post office’s administrative facility. In 1978, the original Federal Building was renovated and renamed Century Station to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of its opening. Currently, it serves as a post office for downtown Raleigh and as the United States Bankruptcy Court
Fayetteville Street (Raleigh)
Fayetteville Street is a major street in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. It is a north-south thoroughfare that connects the State Capitol to the Raleigh Convention Center and the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts...
in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It was the first Federal Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
project in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
following the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Construction of the building began in 1874 and was completed in 1878. The building's Second Empire design was by Alfred B. Mullett
Alfred B. Mullett
Alfred Bult Mullett was an American architect who served from 1866 to 1874 as Supervising Architect, head of the agency of the United States Treasury Department that designed federal government buildings...
whose more famous works included the Old Executive Office Building
Old Executive Office Building
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building , formerly known as the Old Executive Office Building and as the State, War, and Navy Building, is an office building in Washington, D.C., just west of the White House...
located near the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. The Federal Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971 and is a Raleigh Historic Landmark.
After completion of the building, local offices of federal agencies, such as the post office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, were located on the first floor. The United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
was located on the second floor and at the time was considered the best fitted courtroom in North Carolina. In 1913, the building was doubled in size to accommodate the effects of city growth. The building was renovated and its original materials and most of its detailing were replicated. In 1939, the building was expanded with the same exterior design being applied to the new addition.
Federal Government agencies grew rapidly after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Due to this growth, the majority of the offices located in the Federal Building were moved to rented facilities located throughout Raleigh. A new Federal Building was constructed downtown to consolidate the agencies in 1970. The facility also became the new home of the court and post office’s administrative facility. In 1978, the original Federal Building was renovated and renamed Century Station to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of its opening. Currently, it serves as a post office for downtown Raleigh and as the United States Bankruptcy Court
United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...