Bet you didn’t know that Savannah’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection has roots stretching back over 230 years. This agency safeguards our borders and facilitates trade. I am excited to tell you more about the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Savannah.
The U.S. Customs Service, a legacy agency of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was established in 1789. Savannah played a vital role in its history. In 1733, General James Oglethorpe established Savannah. The colony aimed to increase trade. Savannah’s location was perfect.
Savannah opened its first U.S. Custom House in 1789. It was on East Bay Street. This area was known as Commerce Row. Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin nearby in 1793. Cotton became Savannah’s main export. It grew rapidly. By 1820, exports increased from 1,000 bales to over 90,000 annually. A second Custom House was built in 1819 to handle the growth. Sadly, it burned down in 1837.
In 1845, the federal government bought land at East Bay and Bull Streets. This is where the current U.S. Custom House stands. It was once the site of James Edward Oglethorpe’s wood-frame home. Oglethorpe designed Savannah’s city plan. The cornerstone for the new Custom House was laid in 1848. Construction finished in 1852. The building housed the Customs Service, the Post Office, and federal courts.
The U.S. Custom House is a symbol of Savannah’s trade importance. John S. Norris, a New York architect, designed it. The building is entirely made of stone. This reflected a desire for fireproof construction. Savannah had suffered many fires. The U.S. Custom House opened in 1852. A newspaper reported it was a perfect thing.
The Greek Revival building faces the corner of Bull and East Bay Streets. A cast-iron fence surrounds it. The fence features tobacco leaf and fleur-de-lis designs. The building has monolithic columns supporting the main facade. Each column weighs tons. They were shipped from Massachusetts. It took a month to move them to the site and another to raise them. The columns feature tobacco leaf carvings.
Inside, a granite staircase stands in the center. Each step locks into the next. An octagonal column in the basement supports the stair. The stair’s railing has the same tobacco leaf design as the fence.
In 2001, the U.S. Customs Service became U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Since 2003, the Customs Service legacy has remained vital. It has a significant presence in Savannah.
Savannah has grown into a major port. CBP officers protect the port and the nation. CBP collects tariffs and duties. Its mission includes counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, and consumer safety. It also facilitates legal travel and trade. Savannah has influenced CBP for over 230 years.
The U.S. Custom House has seen significant events. The yacht “Wanderer” case was tried here in 1860. This was the last documented slave importation violation. In 1861, the Confederate flag flew above the building briefly. General Sherman returned control to the Union in 1864. In 1889, Colonel John H. Deveaux became the first African American U.S. Customs Collector here. The U.S. Custom House was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Today, the U.S. Custom House continues its original purpose. It stands as a monument to Savannah’s history. It is a reminder of the city’s importance as a port. It showcases Greek Revival architecture.