Image: City National Bank Building -- Houston, Texas

Description: During the early years of the twentieth century, Houston gained economic maturity with a rapid rise in bank deposits, the full development of its railroads and ship channel, the discovery of nearby oil fields, and a municipal government supportive of progressive and civic growth. The burgeoning growth of City National Bank, represented by the construction of a new building in 1947, reflects the economic prosperity of post-War Houston. The bank played an important role in the stimulation of that economy. The City National Bank building is most strongly associated with Judge James A. Elkins', the bank's president, role in Houston banking. Elkins' exceptional significance in the development of high finance in Houston makes its period of significance extend to 1956 to encompass the full length of occupation of the building by the City National Bank. A formidable influence upon the post-war skyline of Houston and a representation of Alfred Finn's later skyscraper design, the building is in the National Register of Historic Places in the area of architecture of local significance.
Title: City National Bank Building -- Houston, Texas
Credit: Own work
Author: Jim Evans
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Attribution Required?: Yes