United States Custom House — Attraction in Charleston

Located in historic Charlestown downtown, the United States Custom House was completed in 1879 and is one of only several historical custom buildings that continues to serve its original purpose.

Historically, a custom house was a building that served as a port of entry into a country, where government officials regulated commerce and collected shipping taxes. By the mid-1800s, Charleston had become one of the busiest port cities in the country and the US Customs Service had outgrown its headquarters in the old exchange building.

Nowadays the building is open to the public on weekends and used for special events like outdoor concerts. it's near to rainbow row or...

I give it a 5 for outside architecture. Never been inside, but I have played many a Piccolo Spoleto concert on the stairs with the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable Band from Atlanta.

It sits at the end of the market and is an icon in Charleston, as all the locals know...

No longer open to the public! A security guard confirmed this historic building remains closed to the public in Spring 2023 due to COVID. There are no plans to reopen public access. So terrible because it is beautiful inside. I had the opportunity to tour it...