
Surrogate's Court - Hall of Records
NY
Architect
John Rochester Thomas
Horgan & Slattery
Designations
National Register of Historic Places in Jan 29, 1972
National Historic Landmark in Dec 22, 1977
New York City Interior Landmark in May 11, 1976
New York City Exterior Landmark in May 11, 1966
Description Show more
Exemplifying the ideals of the “City Beautiful” movement, this opulent Parisian courthouse was originally built as a storage facility for the city’s records. Statues on the exterior, by Philip Martiny and Henry Kirk Bush-Brown, depict various allegorical figures such as Law and Philosophy, as well as prominent features of New York history.
1911 Surrogate Court completed as a fireproof building, designed to house the City's Records. The 58 sculptures by Philip Martiny and Henry Kirke Bush-Brown on the outside are themed around Revolution and about New York
The Surrogate's Court - Hall of Records cost $7 million to build in 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 seven million dollars
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.
Exemplifying the ideals of the “City Beautiful” movement, this opulent Parisian courthouse was originally built as a storage facility for the city’s records. Statues on the exterior, by Philip Martiny and Henry Kirk Bush-Brown, depict various allegorical figures such as Law and Philosophy, as well as prominent features of New York history.
1911 Surrogate Court completed as a fireproof building, designed to house the City's Records. The 58 sculptures by Philip Martiny and Henry Kirke Bush-Brown on the outside are themed around Revolution and about New York
The Surrogate's Court - Hall of Records cost $7 million to build in 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 seven million dollars
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.
Tours
The Commons - The Heart of New York City
Nearby
Four Seasons | 32 feet |
New York in Infancy and New York in Revolution | 52 feet |
Surrogate Court Lobby Mosaic | 75 feet |
Surrogate Court Roof and Facade Sculptures | 96 feet |
Municipal Archives of the City of New York | 119 feet |
New York County Surrogates Court (Staircase) | 126 feet |
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) founded | 146 feet |
BMT Chambers Street Station | 238 feet |
New Gaol, turned Debtor's Prison, turned Provost Prison, turned Hall of Records | 300 feet |
Timeline

