Insurance Exchange Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Insurance Exchange Building
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Insurance Exchange Building, September 2009
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| Location | 205 E. Broadway, Long Beach, California |
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| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Harvey H. Lochridge |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial, Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000002 |
| Added to NRHP | February 5, 2003 |
The Insurance Exchange Building is a very old and special building in downtown Long Beach, California. It was once known as the Middough Building. This eight-story building was built in a fancy style called Beaux Arts. When it first opened in 1925, it was one of the biggest office buildings in the area. Because of its history, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This means it's officially recognized as an important landmark.
Contents
A Look at the Building's History
Building's Early Days and First Owners
The Insurance Exchange Building first opened its doors in 1925. Back then, it was called the Middough Building. Two brothers, Lorne and Way Middough, built it. They even moved their own clothing store for men and boys into the first floor.
First Tenants: The Long Beach Court
When the building was new, the Long Beach Municipal Court moved in. This court handles local legal cases. They used the third, fifth, and sixth floors starting in July 1925. The court stayed there for five years. They eventually needed more space for other courts and county offices.
New Name and New Purpose
In 1931, the Middough brothers sold the building. That's when its name changed to the Insurance Exchange Building. It became a hub for insurance companies.
The building was quite large, with about 28,000 square feet of space. In 1958, it was sold again. The new owners planned to update it. They even wanted to open a fancy restaurant on the top floor. At that time, many different businesses were tenants. These included a company that helped people with money and a dance studio.
In 1962, the building was sold once more. The new owner wanted to make it a central place for insurance businesses. Many insurance companies and their representatives moved in.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
In February 2003, the Insurance Exchange Building officially became a part of the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. In 2007, the building was part of a big project to improve downtown Long Beach. This project brought new businesses, like a nightclub and a restaurant, to the area.
More About Long Beach History
