The Custom House
Inside this impressive building were the offices of the United States Customs Service collectors, inspectors, and other officials. It was here that ship’s captains and owners paid duties on imported goods, ordinarily about 5% of their value.
Before the passage of the Federal Income Tax Act of 1913, customs duties on ship’s cargoes provided much of the money to run the national government. Between 1789 and 1840, duties collected here earned the Treasury more than $20 million – a substantial amount in those days.
Salem’s Customs House was one of several in Massachusetts. It was built in 1819, near the end of Salem’s prominence as a world port. However, the Customs Service used the building for more than a century. Today the Customs House is the centerpiece of Salem Maritime National Historic Site. During scheduled hours you may visit historically furnished rooms that recall Salem’s maritime heritage.
Marker is at the intersection of Derby Street and Orange Street, on the right when traveling east on Derby Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
