Historic Sites from Latah County: Moscow City Hall

The building you are looking at was originally constructed as the post office and federal building for the city of Moscow. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was designed by the architect James Knox Taylor, who was the supervisory architect for the U.S. Treasury Department. Construction on this building began on May 2, 1910 and was completed on July 1, 1911.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-49.

The federal building was a large investment into the city of Moscow by the government. In 1911 the federal building cost $84,484.25, using inflation calculators the building would have cost over $2 Million to construct in 2013. The presence of a federal building added to Moscow's prestige as the center of business and civic affairs in the palouse region.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-54.

The facing for this building is constructed of brick, stone and terra cotta. The building was constructed in the Federalist Style of architecture. Exterior elements worthy of note are the large rounded first story windows, a decorative frieze created from a terra cotta band featuring diamond and rectangle decorations. The interior of the building features marble floors and oak ornamentation. The building was initially housed the post office on the ground floor, the second floor housed the federal court room and court offices, the third floor consisted of various offices for various federal agencies including the IRS, the District Attorney, Grand Jury, Forest Service, FBI and a holding cell for prisoners.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-57.

Federal offices moved from the building in 1974 when the City of Moscow purchased the building for $70,000. For several years the building sat vacant until in 1981 it became Moscow’s Community Center to be used for large community events. Today the building is used as the City Hall of Moscow; the building is open from 8am-5pm Monday through Friday for people to peruse the hallways. On the second floor is the Third Street Art Gallery which highlights local artists. The foyer on the first floor is very well preserved and certainly worth heading inside to see.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-58.

References:

Hart, Arthur A. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form. Boise, ID, May 22, 1973.

Otness, Lillian W. A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 45.

Schuknecht, Sarah. “Moscow’s First Federal Building.” Student paper, University of Idaho, 1998. Latah County Historical Society Archives, LC Moscow Buildings 18.