The Custom House

The city of Boston is characterized by European-style architecture with far fewer high-rise buildings than you'll find in other American cities. The few skyscrapers are mostly concentrated in the Financial District. One of them is the Custom House Tower, the first skyscraper in Boston. The building was completed in 1849, and has the appearance of a Greek temple with Doric columns and a domed skylight. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the structure was topped by a clock tower 151 meters high. Despite not being the tallest skyscraper in the city, it still catches the eye, perhaps due to its white granite walls which stand out among the other buildings nearby.