![United States Custom House in the 1970s](https://www.portlandoldport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/US-Customs-House-1970s.jpg)
![United States Custom House in 2024](https://www.portlandoldport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/US-2024.jpg)
The United States Custom House was constructed between 1867 and 1872 to provide office space for the United States Customs Service. This new facility was necessitated by the Great Fire of July 4, 1866, which had destroyed the Exchange Building, previously home to the customs office, post office, and courts, along with 1,800 other buildings in downtown Portland. Despite limited federal funds in the post-Civil War era, the need to sustain Portland’s customs operations and aid in the city’s reconstruction led to the building’s development. In recognition of its historical significance, the U.S. Custom House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
By 2012, U.S. Customs had relocated, and the building now accommodates several federal agencies, including the Small Business Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.