National Farmers' Bank
About this property
The National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna, Minnesota, United States, is a historic bank building designed by Louis Sullivan, with decorative elements by George Elmslie. It was built in 1908, and was the first of Sullivan's "jewel box" bank designs. The building is clad in red brick with green terra cotta bands, and features two large arches on its street-facing facades. Single-story wings, originally housing bank offices, extend along each side. Internal elements include two stained-glass windows designed by Louis J. Millet, a mural by Oskar Gross, and four immense cast iron electroliers designed by Elmslie and cast by Winslow Brothers Company. The officers of the National Farmers' Bank sought Sullivan out, in part because they wanted a fresh idea of a bank building that would suit their specific needs, and they felt that conventional bank architecture of the time would not meet those. The building Sullivan designed included a farmers' exchange room, where its clients might do business with each other, a women's consultation room, a conference room for the bank board, and the president's office. All of these rooms were richly decorated, with custom furniture. The bank was remodeled in 1940, and many of the interior architectural elements were destroyed. Subsequent work in 1958 and from 1976 to 1981 restored it to its original grandeur. On January 7, 1976, it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its architectural significance. The building now houses a branch of the Wells Fargo bank. It is also a contributing property to the Owatonna Commercial Historic District. In 1981 the bank was featured on a block of four stamps paying tribute to American architects. National Register of Historic Places listings in Steele County, Minnesota Farmers and Merchants Bank, Columbus, Wisconsin (1919) Home Building Association Company, Newark, Ohio (1914) People's Federal Savings and Loan Association, Sidney, Ohio (1918) Millett, Larry. The curve of the arch: The story of Louis Sullivan's Owatonna Bank (1985). Minnesota Historical Society Press. Morrison, Hugh. Louis Sullivan, Prophet of Modern Architecture. New York City: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0393001164. "Why a Minnesota bank building ranks among the nation’s most significant architecture", PBS NewsHour, June 15, 2022. Minnesota Public Radio: Louis Sullivan's Owatonna Bank
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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 National Farmers' Bank listed on the National Register?
National Farmers' Bank was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1971.
What type of historic resource is National Farmers' Bank?
National Farmers' Bank is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is National Farmers' Bank a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. National Farmers' 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 National Farmers' Bank?
The period of significance for National Farmers' Bank is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near National Farmers' 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 National Farmers' Bank will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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