Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House

1902-07

Architect: Cass Gilbert
Address: 1 Bowling Green, Manhattan
A Beaux-Arts masterpiece by Gilbert. Carved figures line the top of the building; inside, sumptuous rotundas and staircases are a must-see when visiting the National Museum of the American Indian, which is housed inside. I like the subway elevator that sits in front of the building; it ties it to New York in an unmistakable way. I imagine that it would have been pretty cool to be a customs agent hopping off a boat in New York Harbor and heading to this building to conduct business...at least until the bureaucracy kicked in...