U.S. Post Offices: Salem, Oregon (1937)

This steel and brick frame structure with sandstone exterior served as Salem’s post office building beginning in 1903. The building is a Beaux Arts design by noted U.S. Treasury architect James Knox Taylor. In 1937, a new Federal Building replaced this structure as the main post office for Salem.

This building was originally sited about 4 blocks west of its current location. A six-month effort ensued in 1938 to move the building to the campus of Willamette University, to the corner of State and 12th streets. The building housed Willamette University’s College of Law until 1967. Today it is known as Gatke Hall and serves as administrative offices for the University.

Current Address: 1190 State Street, Salem, Oregon

Note: This structure ceased service as a post office long before the creation of the ZIP code system.