Bank of Montreal Head Office, Montreal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bank of Montreal Head Office, Montreal |
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Bank of Montreal's main Montreal branch at Place d'Armes in Old Montreal
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| General information | |
| Address | 119, rue Saint-Jacques Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1L6 |
| Coordinates | 45°30′18″N 73°33′28″W / 45.5049°N 73.5579°W |
| Current tenants | Bank of Montreal Bank of Montreal Museum |
| Completed | 1847 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 1 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Wells |
| Architecture firm | McKim, Mead & White |
The Bank of Montreal's Head Office is a very important building. It is located on Saint Jacques Street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This building sits right across from the famous Notre-Dame Basilica in the Old Montreal area.
The Bank of Montreal is the oldest bank in Canada. It was started way back in 1817! While this building is still the bank's official headquarters, its main operations moved. In 1977, they moved to First Canadian Place in Toronto. This move happened because of some political changes in Quebec at the time.
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About the Building's Design
The most important part of the complex is the Bank of Montreal Main Branch. It looks a lot like the ancient Pantheon building in Rome. This impressive building was finished in 1847.
Who Designed It?
The original building was designed by an architect named John Wells. He got his ideas from another bank building. This was the headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The building is built in a style called Neoclassical. This style often uses grand columns and simple, balanced shapes. The beautiful sculpted part above the entrance, called the pediment, was made by Sir John Steell. Later, between 1901 and 1905, the building was made bigger. A famous architecture firm from New York City called McKim, Mead & White did this work.
Bank of Montreal Museum
Did you know there's a museum inside the Bank of Montreal Head Office? The Bank of Montreal Museum shows the history of the bank. It has many interesting things to see.
What Can You See?
- You can see a teller's window from the 1800s. This is where people would have done their banking long ago.
- There are old photos that show what the bank looked like in the past.
- You can also see old coins, banknotes, and cheques.
- They even have cool mechanical piggy banks on display!
The museum is located in a passage that connects the old building to the newer parts of the head office. It's open during the bank's regular hours. The best part is that admission to the museum is completely free!
Gallery
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Bank of Montreal under construction (1859)
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Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch ca. 1909
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Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch
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Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch
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Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch
