The US Custom House building has been accumulating bits of history since it first opened in 1842. It's the oldest customs house in the island and the only one of its type under the United States flag. Located in the Barrio Playa in Ponce, the place served as a base for the American Army during the Spanish-American War. The building has survived a number of dangerous events, such as a massive fire and an earthquake, even though it got remodeled after the later in 1924. It was officially recognized in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, serving as an important example of the Spanish Colonial architecture style outside of Old San Juan.