Boise City National Bank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boise City National Bank
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The Boise City National Bank building in 2018
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 Location in Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Location | 8th and Idaho Sts., Boise, Idaho |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | James King; Tourtellotte & Co. |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001030 |
| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1978 |
The Boise City National Bank building is a historic landmark in Boise, Idaho. It was designed by architect James King. This three-story building was finished in 1892. Its style, called Richardsonian Romanesque, was inspired by a famous store in Chicago.
Over the years, this building has had many names. People have called it the Simplot Building and the Baird Building. It was also known as the Capital Security Building. Sometimes, people just call it the 801 Building or the 805 Building.
This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1978. This means it is recognized for its historical value.
Building Design and Changes
The Boise City National Bank building was built on a corner. It was 70 feet long on West Idaho Street. It was 60 feet long on North 8th Street. Inside, the bank itself used a space that was 25 by 53 feet.
Other shops also had spaces facing 8th Street and Idaho Street. The second and third floors had eleven offices each. A skylight in the middle helped make these offices bright.
The building's outside is made of sandstone. Originally, the plan was to use sandstone only for the bottom six feet. The rest of the building's outside would have been brick with stone details.
However, the design changed soon after building started. The entire outside was then made of sandstone. Moving one large stone block from Table Rock was a big job. It weighed 14,000 pounds and needed eight horses to pull it!
In 1904, a company called Tourtellotte & Co. started building a fourth floor. They also updated the inside and put in an elevator. The building grew longer on Idaho Street, reaching 150 feet. It also became deeper, at 122 feet.
The new parts of the building also got the same sandstone outside. The new top floor was designed by architects Wayland & Fennell. It was made to hold the Boise Commercial Club.
Later, in 1912, Tourtellotte & Hummel changed the 8th Street side. They moved the bank's main entrance. It used to be right on the corner. They moved it to a new spot on 8th Street. The bank also grew bigger, taking over space that was once a drug store.
History of the Bank
The Boise City National Bank first opened on April 1, 1886. It was in a different building at 7th and Main Streets in Boise City. Soon after opening, it received special bank notes.
By July, the bank started paying interest on money people saved there. In November, it became a place where the government could keep its money. By the end of 1886, the bank was doing very well. It had almost $64,000 in regular savings. It also had over $20,000 in long-term savings. Because it was growing so fast, the bank needed a bigger building.
Plans for the new building were made 18 months before construction began in 1891. This delay might have been because people at the bank were worried. They wondered if Idaho would stay a state or go back to being a territory.
The first design for the building was not by James King. It was by an architect from Chicago. This was the city where the famous Marshall Field's Wholesale Store was, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson. James King became the architect because people worried Boise City might not have enough money to build the Chicago design.
The Boise City National Bank used this new building from March 26, 1892. It stayed there until August 1, 1932. On that day, the bank did not open. Its money and debts were then handled by the government.
In 1892, other important offices were also in the building. These included the United States district court. The United States Marshals Service also had offices there. The United States Surveyor General's office was another tenant.
