National Bank of Whittier Building

National Bank of Whittier Building is a historic commercial building in uptown Whittier, California. Built in 1923 by John and David Parkinson in the Beaux Arts Neoclassical architecture style, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

National Bank of Whittier Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Bank of Whittier Building, 2008
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Location	13006 Philadelphia Street Whittier, California
Coordinates	33°58′44″N 118°2′10″W
Built	1923
Architect	John and David Parkinson
Architectural style	Beaux Arts
Website	www.poetgardens.com
NRHP reference No.	82000969[1]
Added to NRHP	December 30, 1982

The current building is the best remaining example of the Beaux Arts style in the City. The building is of national significance as it was the site of Richard M. Nixon's first law office.^[2] Whittier was Nixon's boyhood home from the age of nine. In 1938, he served as the Deputy City Attorney to the City of Whittier. A replica of President Nixon's office has been re-created and is available to tour at the Whittier Historical Museum.

The bank located in this building was operated by the Perry family of bankers. Herman Perry served on the school board and was a member of the Committee of 100 that bankrolled Nixon's first run for Congress. His son Hubert overlapped with Nixon at Whittier High School and became a noted Whittier philanthropist.

The building now bears the name Nixon Plaza in honor of its most famous tenant.

Poet Gardens

Poet Gardens is a food hall located on the ground floor of the historic Nixon Plaza in Uptown Whittier.^[3]

Poet Gardens opened in the fall of 2019, becoming the first food hall to open in the city.^[4][5] The market has a square footage of over 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²), and is anchored by the Whittier Brewing Company and houses 7 food stalls.^[6][7] The food hall was conceptualized by Ricardo Diaz, a local restaurateur and chef.^[8]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
2. Keith Durflinger (August 29, 2017). "Historic Whittier bank building was President Nixon's law office at one time". Whittier Daily News.
3. "City of Whittier Economic Development Strategy Fiscal Year 2019-20". City of Whittier. 2019.
4. "EPISODE 103: BUILD UP OUR UPTOWN with Ricardo Diaz". What's Up Whittier. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
5. "Salud! Whittier approves second craft brewery for Uptown". Whittier Daily News. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
6. "Everything We Know About Ricardo Diaz's Whittier Brewing Company and His Seven Food Stalls at Poet Gardens Opening This Fall, the L.A. Taco Exclusive". L.A. TACO. 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
7. "Local chef Ricardo Diaz to open brewery in Uptown Whittier's former Bank of America building". Whittier Daily News. 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
8. "Ricardo Diaz '93 Opens Poet Gardens | Whittier College". Whittier College. Retrieved 2021-01-17.

External links

• Official website

• 
  Front entrance to National Bank of Whittier Building.
• 
  Whittier Village Clock, mounted on the building's corner.