View looking west on Chestnut Street showing the United States Custom House at 420 Chestnut Street. Originally built as the Second Bank of the United States in 1824 after the designs of Philadelphia architect William Strickland, the building served as the U.S. Custom House from 1845 to 1935. Includes two vendor stands and several individuals sitting and standing on the steps of the customhouse., Title and date from manuscript note on mount., Yellow mount with square corners., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Reproduced in The Print and Photograph Department of the Library Company of Philadelphia's Center City Philadelphia in the 19th century (Portsmouth, N.H.: Arcadia Publishing, 2006), p. 100., Arcadia caption text: This impressive marble-faced building, constructed between 1821 and 1824 as the Second Bank of the United States after designs by William Strickland, served as the United States Custom House from 1845 to 1935. The entire building from the space under the exterior stairs to the ceiling was constructed with arches “in a bomb-proof manner” intended to discourage attacks on the building by “incendiaries.” This 1867 view of the structure showing the Chestnut Street façade includes two street vendors selling produce., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Bartlett & French, photographer
Date
1867
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Bartlett & French - Government Buildings [(8)1322.F.23a]
