It is an imposing three-story, Classical Revival style light sandstone building.

It consists of a central mass with balanced projecting wings having engaged pedimented porticos.

The design of the front facade of the earlier 1840s customs house is incorporated into the projecting wings to the cast iron details.

[3] It was used as the outside of the courthouse on seasons 7-9 of Andy Griffith's TV series Matlock on ABC.

[4] This article about a property in New Hanover County, North Carolina on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.