James A. Farley Building

Farley Post Office is a massive structure handling incredible volumes of mail on a daily basis. Formerly open at all times, the post office still holds late hours for New Yorkers’ convenience. Its ‘Operation Santa’ (a program delivering responses and gifts to needy children writing to Santa Claus) was highlighted in the classic film ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ and still runs out of the Farley Post Office today.

Located in Manhattan, the Farley Post Office (officially entitled the James A. Farley Building) often constitutes visitors’ first views of New York City; upon arriving at Penn Station and walking up through Madison Square Garden, the Farley Post Office comes into sight. Inhabiting two full city blocks, trains to and from the nearby station pass under it.

The architecture itself was designed by McKim, Mead and White and incorporates Greek-inspired elements such as decorative Corinthian columns on the face of the building. The columns actually comprise a façade supported by appendages of the underlying structure. Most noticeable about the building are its massive and encompassing steps, reminiscent of other structures in American cities such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The post office itself seems to be constantly adjusted and slightly re-purposed to accommodate the changing needs of New York. Until the economic struggles of 2009, Farley Post Office offered 24-hour service. The post office still houses the Museum of Postal History and various customer service offices and personnel.

Officially deemed a national landmark, the Farley Post Office is capable of rerouting large volumes of mail. It did this following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, preventing immediate delays in mail service.

This structure is a recommended first stop for those visiting New York by train. It’s a quick visit and an easy place to get your bearings. After a quick jaunt up the stairs, you can marvel at the expansive lobby and relax for a moment after your travels. Many tourists enjoy taking pictures in front of the large structure to compare its size to the human frame. Serious photographers should bring wide-angle lenses to capture the length of the post office.

- by Tara M. Clapper, New York Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Tara M. Clapper

Tara M. Clapper is a full-time freelance writer residing just outside of Philadelphia. Tara enjoys exploring traditional and historical locations in the city as well as quirky and innovative restaurants and attractions. Tara utilizes her background in academic, service-based and traditional publishing to create insider-perspective articles. Her topics of interest include travel, weddings, Irish American culture, and geek subculture.