Southern National Bank
About this property
The Old Bank of Louisville, also known historically as the Southern National Bank building, is a historic commercial building at 316 West Main Street in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Completed in 1837, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971 for its exceptionally fine Greek Revival architecture. It currently serves as the lobby for the adjacent Actors Theatre of Louisville. The Old Bank of Louisville is located in downtown Louisville, on the south side of West Main Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. Occupying a relatively narrow lot, its facade consists of a pair of fluted stone columns topped by Ionic capitals and set in antis beneath an entablature and iron crested parapet. The flanking antae are, like the columns, fashioned from limestone, but with a battered finish. Behind the columns is a three-bay facade, with tall multipane windows flanking and rising above the center entrance. The interior retains some original finishes, notably including Ionic columns and a domed ceiling. The building was probably completed in 1837, for the Bank of Louisville, which had been chartered in 1832. It was probably designed by James Dakin, an architect who had worked with Minard Lafever, including the preparation of drawings for Lafever's The Beauties of Modern Architecture, published in 1835. Several of the building's features appear to be derived from plates found in that book. Gideon Shryock, who was long thought to be its designer, apparently served as its construction superintendent. After serving for many years as a bank, the building was converted in the 1970s to serve as a lobby space for the adjacent theater.
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Southern National Bank listed on the National Register?
Southern National Bank was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 11, 1971.
What type of historic resource is Southern National Bank?
Southern National Bank is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Southern National Bank a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Southern National Bank has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Southern National Bank?
The period of significance for Southern National Bank is recorded as the modern era, specifically around 1995.
Can I research the history near Southern National Bank?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Southern National Bank will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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