Exemplifying the ideals of the “City Beautiful” movement, this opulent Parisian courthouse was originally built as a storage facility for the city`s records. 58 sculptures on the exterior, by Philip Martiny and Henry Kirk Bush-Brown, depict various allegorical figures such as Law and Philosophy, or themed around Revolution, as well as prominent features of New York history.
Planned, 1888
Planned since 1888 for use as a Hall of Records and home to Surrogate's Court, it took eight years to build, from 1899 to 1907, and cost more than $7 million.
Constructed, 1907
Surrogate Court completed as a fireproof building, designed to house the City's Records.
Renamed, 1962
The building was originally designed for use as a Hall of Records and this was its original name. The Surrogate's Court was one of the original tenants, with courtrooms, offices, and chambers on the 5th floor. The building was renamed the Surrogate's Courthouse in 1962.
The central portion of the southern (Chambers Street) elevation contains three double-height arched doorways, each of which contains a pair of doors and a window with bronze grilles.
2018
Mansard Roof detail
2022
Probably the most noteworthy element of the facade are the 54 sculptures. On the pediment are 8 notable early New Yorkers.
2022
The cornice on the 5th floor has 36ft high sculptures of eight men who played a significant role in the New York's early history.
The roofline has sculptures depicting the seasons, phases of life, and Poetry and Philosophy.
2021
View of the roof and cornice sculptures
2022
2018
The exterior features fifty-four sculptures by Philip Martiny and Henry Kirke Bush-Brown.
2021
'New York in Revolutionary Times' sculpture
2021
'New York in Its Infancy' sculpture
2022
Municipal Archives inside Surrogate's Courthouse building
1907 - Constructed
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1907 - Constructed - Images
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1933
The facade of the Surrogate's Courthouse consists mostly of granite from Hallowell, Maine, with ashlar masonry, 1933
1887
The Beaux Arts style building is split vertically into a two-story rusticated base, a three-story midsection, a sixth story and a seventh story in a mansard roof, 1887