U.S. Customhouse
National Historic Landmark

U.S. Customhouse

New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana
Listed
July 16, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
74000938

About this property

The U.S. Custom House, also known as the Old Post Office and Custom House, is a historic government building at 423 Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was designated a National Historic Landmark, receiving this designation in 1974 and noted for its Egyptian Revival columns. Construction on the building, designed to house multiple federal offices and store goods, began in 1848 and didn't finish until 1881 due to redesigns and the American Civil War. The U.S. Customs offices have been located there since the late 19th century. In 2008, it became home to the Audubon Insectarium, the largest free-standing American museum dedicated to insects. The Insectarium remained there until 2023, when it relocated to the Audubon Aquarium.

Location

423 Canal St.
New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana
29.95204, -90.06630

Categories

COMMERCEPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

New Orleans Lower Central Business District (Boundary Increase)
Civil War
0 mi
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
Modern
0.1 mi
Lower Central Business District
Civil War
0.1 mi
Bank of Louisiana
Early Republic
0.2 mi
U.S. Naval Station Algiers Historic District
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

New Orleans Race Riot (1866)
1866Frontier
0.3 mi
Battle of New Orleans — Main Assault Jan 8 1815
1815Early Republic
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was U.S. Customhouse listed on the National Register?

U.S. Customhouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 16, 1974.

What type of historic resource is U.S. Customhouse?

U.S. Customhouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is U.S. Customhouse a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. U.S. Customhouse has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for U.S. Customhouse?

The period of significance for U.S. Customhouse is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1848.

Can I research the history near U.S. Customhouse?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near U.S. Customhouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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