Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, New York City, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House is a grand Beaux-Arts building at 1 Bowling Green, at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City. It was built in the early 1900s to collect duties on the goods pouring into one of the world's busiest ports, and it stands on ground that was once the site of Fort George. Today it is one of lower Manhattan's most striking public buildings.

The story behind it

Long before the Custom House, this corner of Manhattan was the edge of the colonial town. Bowling Green, the small park in front of the building, is widely described as the oldest public park in New York City. The Dutch and later the British fortified the point, and Fort George stood here until it was cleared away after independence.

The building takes its name from Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, whose department oversaw the collection of customs duties in the young United States. It was renamed in his honor in 1990. The site also ties into the end of British rule: in late 1783 the last British troops left New York, and for many years afterwards the city marked the anniversary as Evacuation Day.

What to look for

• Look at the front steps for the large sculptural group representing the four continents, which gives the entrance its sense of ceremony.
• Notice the row of statues along the top of the facade, a reminder that this building was made to speak for a trading nation.
• Step into Bowling Green park and look back to see how the Custom House closes off the view like a stage set.
• Inside, look up in the oval rotunda, where the murals and the sweep of the ceiling show how much care went into a working government office.

Tips for your visit

• Give the exterior and Bowling Green about 15 to 20 minutes, or more if you go inside to see the rotunda.
• The building houses a museum, so you can usually walk in and see the interior. Check current opening hours before you go.
• Morning light is kind to the facade, and the park is quieter before the lunchtime crowds arrive.
• Battery Park and the waterfront are a short walk away, so it combines easily with the rest of the southern tip of Manhattan.

See it on a quest

The Custom House is one stop on Alexander Hamilton New York: Walk in His Footsteps, a self-guided walk through the streets Hamilton knew. You reach the building on foot as part of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It suits anyone who wants the story of the man behind the name, not just a photo of the facade. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.