First National Bank Building (Davenport, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
The First National Bank Building is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa
, United States
, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is now known as US Bank, the building’s main tenant.
in 1933, First National Bank was taken over by Union Savings Bank and Trust
. The upper floors of the building remained occupied after the bank’s failure, but the main banking room was not occupied by another bank again until the late 20th century. Tenants are mainly professionals such as dentists, medical doctors, attorneys, and insurance agents.
The building's form is restrained but the decoration on the lower level of the building is not. The stylistic details evoke the Renaissance Revival style and combines classical precedents with forms that are associated with the sixteenth century Italian Renaissance
. These stylistic elements are combined with the technological advances of the Chicago School
.
The lower level of the building is a tall arcade of round arches and pilasters with detailed capitals
. The capitals feature carvings of horses and buffalo among floral motifs. The main entrance on 2nd Street is in a recessed rounded arch in the center of the building. An ornate bronze screen above the doors is covered with urns, floral designs and Grecian or Roman figures. There is an inscription above the third floor of the building which notes that the building housed the first National bank in the United States. The first floor interior has been modified from its original appearance and it retains little of historic importance.
A clock that was originally mounted on the Scott County Savings Bank building was mounted on the northeast corner of the building in 1994. The clock was made of copper in 1918 and weighs 600 pounds. An awning was built on the west side of the building to cover the lanes of the motor banking facilities and ATM
s.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is now known as US Bank, the building’s main tenant.
History
The National Banking and Currency Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in 1863. First National Bank in Davenport was the first bank in the country to open under the new act. The bank was headed by Austin Corbin, who had previously been with Macklot and Corbin in Davenport. A $12.60 check written by Henry Hess was the first check in the country to clear the new banking system. The bank suffered some financial difficulties in the 1870s and was re-chartered in 1882. In the 1920s First National Bank merged with Iowa National Bank and maintained the name of the former. After the Bank HolidayEmergency Banking Act
The Emergency Banking Act was an act of the United States Congress spearheaded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. It was passed on March 9, 1933...
in 1933, First National Bank was taken over by Union Savings Bank and Trust
Union Savings Bank and Trust
Union Savings Bank and Trust is located downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is now known as the Union Arcade. The Schmidt Block, which is immediately to the east of the Union Arcade, is also listed on the...
. The upper floors of the building remained occupied after the bank’s failure, but the main banking room was not occupied by another bank again until the late 20th century. Tenants are mainly professionals such as dentists, medical doctors, attorneys, and insurance agents.
Architecture
The First National Bank Building is the third building on the same site for the bank. It replaced a building that was destroyed by a fire. The building is nine floors with a steel frame and brick construction. It is built on a concrete foundation and is faced with stone.The building's form is restrained but the decoration on the lower level of the building is not. The stylistic details evoke the Renaissance Revival style and combines classical precedents with forms that are associated with the sixteenth century Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
. These stylistic elements are combined with the technological advances of the Chicago School
Chicago school (architecture)
Chicago's architecture is famous throughout the world and one style is referred to as the Chicago School. The style is also known as Commercial style. In the history of architecture, the Chicago School was a school of architects active in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century...
.
The lower level of the building is a tall arcade of round arches and pilasters with detailed capitals
Capital (architecture)
In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
. The capitals feature carvings of horses and buffalo among floral motifs. The main entrance on 2nd Street is in a recessed rounded arch in the center of the building. An ornate bronze screen above the doors is covered with urns, floral designs and Grecian or Roman figures. There is an inscription above the third floor of the building which notes that the building housed the first National bank in the United States. The first floor interior has been modified from its original appearance and it retains little of historic importance.
A clock that was originally mounted on the Scott County Savings Bank building was mounted on the northeast corner of the building in 1994. The clock was made of copper in 1918 and weighs 600 pounds. An awning was built on the west side of the building to cover the lanes of the motor banking facilities and ATM
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
s.