National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna

The National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna, Minnesota, United States, is a historic bank building designed by Louis Sullivan, with decorative elements by George Elmslie.

National Farmers' Bank
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna from the southwest
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Location	101 North Cedar Avenue, Owatonna, Minnesota
Coordinates	44°5′6″N 93°13′33″W
Built	1908
Architect	Louis Sullivan
Architectural style	Prairie School
Part of	Owatonna Commercial Historic District (ID14001237)
NRHP reference No.	71000441[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 26, 1971
Designated NHL	January 7, 1976[2]
Designated CP	February 2, 2015

History

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.^[2][3]

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.^[3]

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.^[2][3] The building now houses a branch of the Wells Fargo bank. It is also a contributing property to the Owatonna Commercial Historic District.^[4]

In 1981 the bank was featured on a block of four stamps paying tribute to american architects.^[5]

Images

• 
  West elevation detail
• 
  Cartouche
• 
  Cartouche detail
• 
  Exterior terra cotta
• 
  Electrolier

See also

• List of National Historic Landmarks in Minnesota
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Steele County, Minnesota

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. "National Farmers' Bank". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on April 3, 2008. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
3. Carolyn Pitts (July 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Northwestern National Bank of Owatonna / National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying 4 photos, exterior and interior, from 1971 and undated. (941 KiB)
4. Pearson, Marjorie; Renee L. Hutter; Andrew J. Schmidt (April 2011). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Owatonna Commercial Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
5. "1931 - 1981 18c American Architecture: Bank, Owatonna Minn". Mystic Stamp Company. Retrieved October 24, 2024.

Further reading

• 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.

External links

• "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
• Digital Imaging Project: National Farmers' Bank
• NHL summary