National Historic Landmark

Farmers' and Exchange Bank

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
Listed
November 7, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001685

About this property

The Farmers' and Exchange Bank is a historic commercial building in Charleston, South Carolina. Built in 1853–54, it is an architecturally distinctive building, with Moorish Revival features rarely seen in the United States. The building is recognizable for its use of muqarnas—characteristic of Persian and North African architecture—as well as its large arched windows and striking red sandstone facade. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973. The Farmers' and Exchange Bank is located on the west side of East Bay Street in the Charleston Historic District. It is a two-story masonry structure, built out of brick and multiple shades of brownstone, with stucco finish. Its main facade is three bays wide, each bay taken up by a tall arched opening with Moorish features. The first floor openings have a contoured shape, with circular windows above entries with intricately carved doors. The second-floor openings are similar, with the upper circular portion having a scalloped edge, and the arches filled with large multi-pane fixed windows. The building was designed by Edward C. Jones and Francis D. Lee, both Charleston architects, and was completed in 1854. Its design is probably based on depictions of Moorish architecture published in Washington Irving's The Alhambra, which was published around that time. It was for some time thought to have been influenced by the Regency architecture of Great Britain, specifically the "Hindu" influence of buildings of that period such as the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, but the architects have been judged unlikely to have been exposed to such influences. The structure was considered for demolition in the early 1970s but Charleston banker Hugh Lane Sr. contributed $50,000 toward its restoration. List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Charleston, South Carolina Farmers' and Exchange Bank, Charleston County (141 E. Bay St., Charleston), at South Carolina Department of Archives and History Historic Charleston's Religious and Community Buildings, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary

Location

141 E. Bay St.
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
32.77767, -79.92704

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Farmers' and Exchange Bank

This page lists Farmers' and Exchange Bank. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Farmers' and Exchange Bank report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

South Carolina National Bank of Charleston
Industrial
0 mi
McCrady's Tavern and Long Room
Early Republic
0 mi
Exchange and Provost
Colonial
0.1 mi
Charleston's French Quarter District
Listed
0.1 mi
Dock Street Theatre
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Charleston
1780Revolutionary War
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Farmers' and Exchange Bank listed on the National Register?

Farmers' and Exchange Bank was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Farmers' and Exchange Bank?

Farmers' and Exchange Bank is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Farmers' and Exchange Bank a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Farmers' and Exchange 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 Farmers' and Exchange Bank?

The period of significance for Farmers' and Exchange Bank is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Farmers' and Exchange 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 Farmers' and Exchange Bank will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Charleston County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Charleston County.

Explore CharlestonCounty ›

More historic places in South Carolina

Browse all historic places in South Carolina.

View South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

South Carolina history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

South Carolinahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Farmers' and Exchange Bank will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report