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The Marriott Custom House was Boston's first skyscraper. The
building was initially completed in 1847, with the twenty-six floor tower
added in 1913. The original design was that of a Greek temple, with Doric
columns on all four sides, and a large domed roof.
Before land reclamation was done in the mid-1800s, Boston's waterfront had
extended right to this building.
The
Custom House was completely renovated in the 1990s, and now is a timeshare
owned by
Marriott Vacations. The building has
luxurious rooms, harbor and city views, a full-service concierge, and an
open observation deck on the 25th floor.
The following is quoted from the 1850 Boston Almanac, with a historic
description of the original Custom House building:
"Situated at the head of the dock between Long and Central Wharves,
fronts east on the dock, west on India Street, and is in the form of a Greek
Cross, [with] the opposite sides and ends being alike. It is 140 feet long
north and south, 75 feet wide at the ends, and 95 feet through the centre.
....
It is built on about 3,000 piles, fully secured against decay; the
construction throughout is fire proof and of the very best kind.
The exterior of the building is purely Grecian Doric, not a copy, but
adapted to the exigencies and peculiarities of the structure, and consists
of a portico [overhang] of 6 columns on each side, on a high flight of steps, and an
order of engaged columns around the walls, 20 in number, on a high stybolate
or basement; the order of engaged columns terminating with 4 andae
[pilasters] at their intersection with the porticos. The columns are 5 feet 4
inches in diameter and 32 feet high, the shaft being in one place, each
weighing about 42 tons.
....
The cellar, which is 10 feet 6 inches high to the crown of the arches, is
principally used for the storage of goods, which are conveyed to it through
the basement story. The steam apparatus for warming the whole building
(which it does effectively) is situated in the cellar, having easy access to
the coal vaults under the sidewalk outside of the building.
The principal entrances to the basement story are at each end. They are
for the receipt of goods for storage. Near the northwest corner, on the west
side, is the entrance to the Night Inspectors' apartments, also to the
private staircase leading to the Collector's room and the attic. South of
the west portico is the entrance to the heating apparatus room, and on the
south end is the entrance to the Custom House Truckmen's room. This story
consists of rooms for the Night Inspectors, Custom House Truckmen, and
Engineer of the Heating Apparatus, also three sets of Water Closets: the
remainder is used for storage of goods, weigher's tabs, etc.
The principal ingress to the entrance story is through the porticos, but
it can be entered from the Collector's private staircase, and from two other
private staircases in the basement. This story contains apartments and
offices for the Assistant Treasurer, the Weighers and Guagers, the
Measurers, Inspectors, Markers, Superintendent of Building, etc. In the
centre is a large vestibule, from which two broad flights of steps lead to
the principal story, landing in two smaller vestibules therein, lighted by
skylights in the roof, and these vestibules communicate with all the
apartments in this story. The several rooms are for the Collector, Assistant
Collector, Naval Officer, Surveyor, Public Store Keeper, their Deputies and
Clerks; and for the facilities of doing business this arrangement is not
surpassed. The grand-cross shaped Rotunda, for the general business of the
Collector's department, in the centre of this story, is finished in the
Grecian Corinthian order; it is 63 feet in its greatest length, 59 feed
wide, and 62 feet in the skylight.
....
The building was commenced in 1837, and entirely completed in 1849; it has
cost about $1,076,000, including the site, foundations, etc. It was designed
by A.B. Young, A.M., Architect, and erected under his immediate supervision
throughout. The execution of the whole was under the general direction of
the Board of Commissioners, appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury of
the United States. This Board consisted of Samuel S. Lewis, Esq., as
chairman, Robert G. Shaw, Esq., disbursing agent and commissioner, and
Collector of the Ports of Boston and Charlestown for the time being.
Jonathan P. Robinson was Clerk to the Board of Commissioners. In one of the
panels of the Rotunda is inserted a tablet of marble, containing the
following inscription:
'Boston Custom House Building. Authorized by the 23d Congress, A.D. 1835.
Andrew Jackson, President U.S.A.; Levi Woodbury, Sec'y of the
Treasury. Opened August 1st, A.D. 1847, James K. Polk, President U.S.A.;
Robert J. Walker Sec'y of the Treasury; Marcus Morton, Collector of the
Port; Samuel S. Lewis, Robert G. Shaw, Commissioners; Ammi Burnham Young,
Architect.'"
Nearby attractions to the Boston Custom House building include the
New England Aquarium,
Faneuil Hall, and
Quincy Market.
MORE PHOTOS
Nearby Buildings
Grain Exchange
Long Wharf Hotel
Mercantile Wharf
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