Clerks, judges and drafted soldiers all passed through the Old Customshouse at 516 North King Street. This historic government building was built in 1855 after Representative George R. Riddle secured appropriations in 1852; it answered a petition from the First Board of Trade, formed in 1837 to promote trade through the port of Wilmington. Delaware’s custom house had originally been in New Castle and was moved to a small rented building on Water Street around 1800 before this permanent structure was completed.
Though intended as a single-use customs facility, the Federal Court and the Post Office shared this building until 1897. During the Korean and Vietnam war periods it served as Delaware’s initial reporting and induction site for drafted soldiers. In 1974 the Old Customshouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1983 Wilmington University purchased the building from the federal government.
The Wilmington Parking Authority later built the Customs House Garage, a 1,335-car facility adjacent to the building. Picture clerks, judges, postmasters, and recruits filling these rooms, and follow the building's line to the large garage beside it.