Discovering Wonders in Cairo's Enchanting Relic: The Old Custom House

Welcome to Cairo, Illinois, where the Old Custom House proudly stands. Completed in 1872, this architectural marvel was the brainchild of U.S Architect, Alfred B. Mullet, adorned with an Italianate design, featuring rounded windows and a bracketed cornice – a departure from the norm among federal buildings in the Mid-Mississippi Valley region. But the Old Custom House is more than just an architectural wonder; it's a vessel for customs, postal services, and courtrooms.

Over the years, as Cairo grew, the Old Custom House found a new purpose, becoming the town’s police station in 1942. Later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Today, it stands proudly, serving as a history museum, eager to share its generations-old tale with all who enter. The Old Custom House was even recognized as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places by the American Institute of Architects Illinois component (AIA Illinois) in 2018. The grand edifice stands tall on Washington Avenue 1400, inviting you to immerse yourself in its vast, rich history.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons