National Farmer's Bank of Owatonna

National Farmers' Bank
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Owatonna's classic bank
Location:	Broadway and Cedar Streets, Owatonna, Minnesota
Coordinates:	44°5′6.36″N 93°13′32.70″W / 44.0851°N 93.22575°W / 44.0851; -93.22575Coordinates: 44°5′6.36″N 93°13′32.70″W / 44.0851°N 93.22575°W / 44.0851; -93.22575
Built:	1908
Architect:	Louis Sullivan
Architectural style:	Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements, Other
NRHP Reference#:	71000441
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	August 26, 1971[1]
Designated NHL:	January 7, 1976[2]

The National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna, Minnesota is a 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 boxes". The building is clad in red brick with green terra cotta bands, and features two large arches. 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 George Grant Elmslie and cast by Winslow Brothers Company (owned by William Winslow, for whom Frank Lloyd Wright designed an iconic house).^[2][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] It is located at the northeast corner of Broadway Street and Cedar Street in Owatonna and is now a Wells Fargo banking store.

Images

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  West elevation detail

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  Cartouche

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  Cartouche detail

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  Exterior terra cotta

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  Electrolier

Other Louis Sullivan "jewel boxes"

• Farmers and Merchants Bank, Columbus, Wisconsin (1919)
• Henry Adams Building, Algona, Iowa (1913)
• Home Building Association Company, Newark, Ohio (1914)
• Merchants' National Bank, Grinnell, Iowa (1914)
• People's Federal Savings and Loan Association, Sidney, Ohio (1918)
• Peoples Savings Bank, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (1912)
• Purdue State Bank, West Lafayette, Indiana (1914)

See also

• Merchants National Bank (Winona, Minnesota)

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2006-03-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "National Farmers' Bank". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1111&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved 2007-10-02. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Carolyn Pitts (July, 1975). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Northwestern National Bank of Owatonna / National Farmers' Bank of OwatonnaPDF (424 KiB). National Park Service.  and Accompanying 4 photos, exterior and interior, from 1971 and undated.PDF (941 KiB)

External links

• National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna, property overview at Minnesota Historical Society
• Minnesota Public Radio: Louis Sullivan's Owatonna Bank
• Digital Imaging Project: National Farmers' Bank
• NHL summary
• Photo set on Flickr taken by @steveminne