History of the Federal Building in Port Arthur, Texas.

For those who didn’t know, the locally well known “Federal Building” in Port Arthur, Texas is better known as US Post Office and Federal Building. What happened to the “Federal Building” in Port Arthur, Texas? Nobody exactly knows why or how this US Post Office building became abandoned and let it decay overtime. This news article will explain the history of the “Federal Building” in Port Arthur, Texas.


US Post Office and Federal Building was built in 1900 by Tom & Sons to serve as a post office for the public and government. James K. Taylor served as the architect. Its property is a 5,271 square foot lot. The basement was finished a year later in 1901. The construction period was from 1900 to 1903. Construction for this building was completed in 1903. This building housed government offices at point.

Historical significance of “Federal Building” is its Classical Revival architectural style. The design and construction stand out in notability the most. Its Classical Revival architecture was highly praised by NRHP officials.

US Post Office and Federal Building was admitted to the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 1986 as #86001099. (Ref: https://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/tx/jefferson/state.html)

The “Federal Building” was abandoned in 1994. Reasons why are unknown. The post office moved to a new location across town into a newer “state of the art” building.

According to a news article from Port Arthur News dating back to 2002, property of the US Post Office and Federal Building was in violation of Chapter 10 of Code of Ordinance of the CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. Excess grass, weeds, and/or brush was found growing on said property. (Ref: Port Arthur News, Page 30, Sunday, November 10, 2002)


On the date of 6/21/2008, the building was listed for sale by its owner on Zillow.com for an amount of $659,000 dollars, but later removed the building from real estate listings on the date of 3/23/2011. To set the record straight, the owner removed the building from real estate listings and not the realtor. The property has listed for sale many times over the years.

(Ref: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/500-Austin-Ave-Port-Arthur-TX-77640/2143939217_zpid/)
(Ref: https://www.loopnet.com/Property-Record/500-Austin-Avenue-Port-Arthur-TX-77640/JZH0xKi4w/Owner-Mortgage/)

On April 4, 2011 the property was put up for a minimum bid of $46,611.07 dollars in a NOTICE OF SALE listed inside The Examiner. On April 3, 2012, the property was listed yet again for bid inside The Examiner under “SHERIFF SALE April 3, 2002”. The minimum starting bid of $500 dollars and a current year value of $59,580. The property was sold to Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office later in 2012.

(Ref: The Examiner, Vol. 16, No. 6, April 21, 2011)
(Ref: The Examiner, Vol. 16, No. 52, March 15, 2012)

The property was resold to Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office again in 2013. In 2015, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office transferred and sold the property with all rights to a private owner. A private owner assumed full ownership and all rights of the property that year.

Today the building is now privately owned and still sits vacant & abandoned. No further use has been attempted or made.


The “Federal Building” aka US Post Office and Federal Building is located at 500 Austin Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas, US 77640. Its alternate address is 500 6th Street, Port Arthur, Texas, US 77640.