About Us: History of the Building

The Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery is housed in a national historic site in the heart of downtown Humboldt.

The building was originally built to house the community’s post office. The structure featured a Richardson Romanesque Style style of architecture, which was the predominant style for federal building constructed between 1910 and 1914. The design was based on mass, volume and scale for its overall effect rather than enriched or decorative detail.

The building was constructed primarily to house postal services but was comprised of many additional features. In the basement there was a shoot-gallery, fuel room, vault and pump room. On the main floor was the post office, vault, customs examining warehouse, and a Weights and Measure office.

The second floor consisted of the Customs long room, the Collector’s office, a place for the Customs records, two offices for Inland Revenue, a brick vault, armoury and a Commanding Officer’s room. The third floor contained a five-room apartment.

This building housed Humboldt’s postal service from 1912 to 1975 and a customs office from 1912 to 1932. The Humboldt detachment of the RCMP had its offices and living quarters on the second floor from 1933 to 1964. The War Time Price and Trade Board had an office in the building from 1940-1945. In 1952-54, a one-storey addition was built on the north side of the building.

In 1977 the building was purchased by the City of Humboldt and was designated a national historic site. Through the efforts of many volunteers and town council support, the building became home to the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery in 1982. The building was designated a Municipal Heritage site in 1984.