Boston Custom House. The Custom House in Boston, Massachusetts, was established in the 17th century and stood near the waterfront in several successive locations through the years.
It has been portrayed in various artistic mediums, reflecting its architectural significance and historical importance. Many artists highlight its neoclassical design, focusing on the grand facade, columns, and the distinctive clock tower, showcasing the building’s status as an iconic landmark.
Artworks often situate the Custom House within the broader narrative of Boston’s maritime history, capturing scenes of trade, commerce, and the bustling activity of the waterfront. Some pieces convey the mood of the surrounding area, using light and weather to evoke a sense of time and place, reflecting the building's role in the city's identity.
In 1849 the U.S. federal government constructed a neoclassical building on State Street; it remains the Custom House known to Bostonians today.
A tower was added in 1915; the building joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was designated a Boston Landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission in 1986. Boston Custom houses have existed at several locations: Richmond St. and Ann St.; built 1674, demolished 1847. In 1810 it moved into a new building on Custom House Street. In the 1830s American author Nathaniel Hawthorne worked there. Construction of current building A