United States Custom House
United States Custom House
4.5
About
A picturesque Beaux Arts building where visitors can gaze upon beautiful Reginald Marsh murals in an oval rotunda.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown Manhattan (Downtown)
How to get there
- Bowling Green • 1 min walk
- Whitehall St – South Ferry • 1 min walk
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
72 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
22
Average
13
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Thomas V
Oakland, CA16,415 contributions
May 2023
This gorgeous building from the 19th Century houses an excellent American Indian museum, so go there. But on the outside the building is impressive and dominates the Bowling Green area. This was once an important part of the NY port.
Written 25 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland18,410 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
The United States Custom House houses the museum of the native Indians. It’s free entry and the building is amazing as well.
Written 25 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lost in Paradise
Queenstown, New Zealand151 contributions
Dec 2022
This extraordinary building is the home of the Native American Museum (brilliant contemporary art as well as history) and Bankruptcy Court, and the NYC Archives (by appointment only). If you are the descendent of any immigrants or others of notability in NY, I would suggest you make an appointment in advance and check it out. The building on it's own is worth a visit. Once the Alexander Hamilton Custom House, it is still the most involved example of the Beaux-Art style of architecture. Designed by a man named Cass Gilbert, it is a masterpiece. If this sort of thing interests you, I would read up about it before you visit, because there is alot to take in.
Written 8 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel M
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand36 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Such a grand old building that now houses artefacts of indigenous people of the Americas. Fine set of murals on the ceiling. Also free which is marvellous!
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA16,415 contributions
Oct 2021
This is a huge and historic building at Battery Park, once housing some of the most important trade functions of the entire country, and a great source of wealth. Now notable as the home of the Indian museum, which is terrific.
Written 4 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
philipu2015
Bedminster, NJ355 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Lower Manhattan is packed with great free things to do and see and this is surely one of them. Here in the canyon of heroes is where New York ticker tape parades start is the the 1907 US customs house now the permanent host of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. I took free tours both on the American Indian and the building itself- All free and fascinating. Did you
Know there were 500 tribes in the America’s? The four statues outside are of the 4 continents (remember- it’s from a 1907 perspective) and were designed by the guy who did the Lincoln memorial in DC.
There were 3 tours on the Sunday I visited - all different- all about an hour starting at 12 and ending at 3 Pm and of course all free.
Know there were 500 tribes in the America’s? The four statues outside are of the 4 continents (remember- it’s from a 1907 perspective) and were designed by the guy who did the Lincoln memorial in DC.
There were 3 tours on the Sunday I visited - all different- all about an hour starting at 12 and ending at 3 Pm and of course all free.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL18,030 contributions
Mar 2019
If you at Battery Park, it is very convenient to walk by for a look. It is a great old, stone building. Like most of the structures in and around the Battery, it also has a history.
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
top-trippers
Bolton, UK611 contributions
Nov 2019
This is an historically important and architecturally stunning building well worth a visit stop if you are in the area – for example visiting the Statue of Liberty or 9/11 Memorial. The original purpose of the building (to collect customs duties) is reflected in its elaborate architecture. In front of the colonnaded entrance, there are four large limestone sculptures representing Africa, America, Asia and Europe. You can guess which statue depicts which continent but the symbolism can best be appreciated with some advance research on the building/Daniel Chester French. Above the columns, 12 statues symbolize famous trading nations. The internal dome features paintings of the arrival of several famous liners arriving in NYC harbour. The building now houses a small but interesting and free to enter museum about the art and culture of the Native American Indian.
Written 8 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StPeteCruiser
St. Petersburg, FL20 contributions
Jul 2019
We were able to tour this beautiful building and were amazed at its importance and prestige just a short walk from the Staten Island Ferry. If you go, look for a Smithsonian docent to lead you through. Ours was on a Thursday at 2pm and lasted an hour. The building was designed by Cass Gilbert, who also did the US Supreme Court building in Washington. Built to impress the wealthy importers making their way to the US for the first time in 1907, the granite and nautical motif of the elegant interior must have done the job. Before income taxes, customs duties were the main income of the new country. The NY harbor paintings in the unsupported dome area are of the famous liners arriving in New York in the 1930's as the paintings were added after the building opened.
Written 6 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,700 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
I stopped for a good look at this building's gray granite facade before continuing to Battery Park across the street. Opened in 1907 at the Southern end of Manhattan, the seven-story Beaux Arts structure features large limestone sculptures of female figures on big entrance pedestals. They represent Asia, America, Europe and Africa. Above the columns, on the main facade, 12 marble statues symbolize famous trading nations.
Originally a place to collect duty for the Port of New York. the building has been converted to a museum. It is now the New York Branch of Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian. Admission is free.
Cass Gilbert designed the United States Custom House along with other notable structures, such as New York City's Woolworth Building and Washington, D.C.'s Supreme Court.The United States Custom House is on the National Register of Historic Places and would be well worth a look for architecture buffs.
Originally a place to collect duty for the Port of New York. the building has been converted to a museum. It is now the New York Branch of Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian. Admission is free.
Cass Gilbert designed the United States Custom House along with other notable structures, such as New York City's Woolworth Building and Washington, D.C.'s Supreme Court.The United States Custom House is on the National Register of Historic Places and would be well worth a look for architecture buffs.
Written 15 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
judeyflips
New York City, NY
How to get there fr 96St and 2nd Ave
LWL3333
Wellington, FL18,100 contributions
Right, 6 subway to Bowling Green.
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Claim your listingUNITED STATES CUSTOM HOUSE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about United States Custom House
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience United States Custom House:
- Full-Day New York "Must See" Small-Group Tour plus One World Observatory Ticket (From S$172.46)
- Hamilton Live! Walking Tour in lower Manhattan (From S$266.04)
- New York "Must See" Small-Group Half-Day Tour (From S$118.98)
- Manhattan Small Group Tour: Attraction Packed w/ Wall Street and 911 Memorial (From S$52.14)
- Private Downtown All Access One World Observatory 9/11 Memorial Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (From S$307.48)
- Hotels near United States Custom House:
- (0.19 km) Sonder Battery Park
- (0.21 km) Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial Center / Manhattan Downtown
- (0.18 km) Hampton Inn Manhattan/Downtown-Financial District
- (0.14 km) DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown
- (0.15 km) The FIDI Hotel
- Restaurants near United States Custom House:
- (0.11 km) Murphy's Tavern
- (0.18 km) Broadstone Bar & Kitchen
- (0.13 km) Antica Ristorante
- (0.16 km) Georgio's Pizzeria
- (0.12 km) Flavors Café