United States Post Office (Canal Street Station)

The United States Post Office on Canal Street is the only post office in Manhattan clad entirely in terra cotta panels. Built between 1937 and 1939, this two-story structure stands out for its Art Moderne style, a design choice meant to project a sense of both modern efficiency and permanent civic dignity during the Great Depression. Its exterior features a striking black terra cotta base that contrasts with the buff-colored panels above, while a tarnished silver-finished frieze wraps around the top of the building.