Best post office ever

Once in a while, I forget that old lesson, “look beyond the surface.” How often have you heard people say, “The real beauty is inside?”

It applies to old gray buildings, too.

I went a-hunting landmarks today, and Amber knew that the main post office in Stockton was on two historic registers. So that’s the one she chose…and the first thing I said was, “Gee! What a boring building!” She kind of chuckled.

Government architecture isn’t always noted for being pretty. It’s typified by solid, gray blocky buildings, perfectly functional but not very imaginative. On the other hand, there were a few nice details, like this eagle.

A long time ago, a friend taught me to look up in towns and cities. Many of the best architectural details are way up high.

I was quite pleased to see it was on two historic registers, though–double points!

This is a Depression-era (1930s) building which houses several federal agencies as well as the post office. The murals were added as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal program.

I decided to go inside. There was a nice bit of decorative metalwork over the doorway that gave a hint of things to come.

And then I went inside and found this. Just look at this! Look at the floor, the ceiling, the walls. So ornate and beautiful. In every direction there was something so at odds with the dull exterior that I could barely reconcile the two. The details were picked out in marble and wood; at the center were potted plants that seemed to thrive under the broad ceiling lights.

Everything was deliciously symmetrical.

Intriguing polished metal (brass?) doors led off to hidden offices. Note the decorative paneling, the little touches of decor that made everything so perfectly grand and imposing.

This picture is a tad blurry, but it shows the detail of the polished floors.

A gold eagle peered down at the steady stream of customers.

This mural depicted travel by stagecoach, which also used to carry mail alongside the passengers.

This one showed more modern aspects of carrying the mail.

Outside the post office, we found a lady who’d taken a stumble and made sure she was all right. She was not hurt, but she had noticed me walking around taking pictures with a big grin on my face and was glad I liked the post office. :)