- Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank (1942)
Infobox_nrhp | name =Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank
nrhp_type =
caption =The main entrance of the Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank in Minneapolis, complete with sculptures of a farmer and a mechanic on either side of the door.
location=Minneapolis, MN
lat_degrees = 44 | lat_minutes = 58 | lat_seconds = 39.35 | lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 93 | long_minutes = 16 | long_seconds = 11.59 | long_direction = W
area =
built =1942
architect= McEnary, Dale; Krafft, Edwin
architecture= Moderne, International Style
added =March 02 ,2006
governing_body =Westin Hotels
refnum=06000094 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]The 1942 Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank building in downtown
Minneapolis, Minnesota is a former bank building that is now the home of aWestin Hotel . The building is an example of theStreamline Moderne phase of theArt Deco movement and is notable for its bold relief sculptures of a farmer and a mechanic framing the main entrance. The sculptures were designed by Warren T. Mosman, who headed the sculpture department at theMinneapolis Institute of Arts .cite book |last=Millett |first=Larry |authorlink=Larry Millett |title=AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul |year=2007 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |location= |isbn=0-87351-540-4 |pages=pp. 33-34 ] The structure was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 2006.The previous Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank headquarters was built in 1891 on 115 S. 4th St. It is now home to Schiek's Palace Royale, a
strip club .The walnut-paneled main banking hall of the building is now the lobby of the hotel. The taller wings of the building once held offices, but now house 214 hotel rooms. The hotel conversion preserved several historic features of the bank building. The main banking lobby with a convert|34|ft|m|sing=on high ceiling, marble staircase, and carved wood emblems have been retained. The bank's boardroom on the 10th floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows, is now a conference room. The original
bank vault on the lower level is also a conference room, while the former safety deposit vault is now a wine vault and the entire bank has been made in to a restaurant, called B.A.N.K. The restaurant kept as much of the original woodworking from the actual bank as possible. Former offices now serve as private dining rooms and the teller counter now serves as a bar. [cite web|url=http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1723|title=Westin Minneapolis Hotels: The Westin Minneapolis|accessdate=2007-09-02] [cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/04/30/daily39.html?jst=s_cn_hl|title=Westin opens in old Farmers & Mechanics bank|publisher=Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal|date=2007-04-30|accessdate=2007-09-02]References
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