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 |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000002 |
| Added to NRHP | February 5, 2003 |
The Insurance Exchange Building is a historic building located in downtown Long Beach, California. It was once known as the Middough Building. This eight-story building was built in 1925. It is a great example of Beaux-Arts architecture, a fancy style popular at the time. When it first opened, it was one of the largest office buildings in downtown Long Beach. In 2003, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
The Story of the Insurance Exchange Building
Building a New Landmark
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 clothing store for men and boys into the first floor.
The new Long Beach Municipal Court also moved in during July 1925. They used several floors for their courtrooms and offices. The court stayed in the building for about five years. They eventually needed more space for other courts and county offices.
A Change of Name and Focus
In 1931, the Middough brothers sold the building. That's when its name changed to the Insurance Exchange Building. This building was very big, with about 28,000 square feet of space. It was one of the largest office buildings in downtown Long Beach.
In 1958, the building was sold again. The new owners planned to update it and add a fancy restaurant on the top floor. At that time, many different businesses were tenants. These included stockbrokers like Dean Witter & Co. on the ground floor. Household Finance Co. and the Veloz and Yolanda dance studio were also major tenants.
In 1962, the building was sold once more. The new owner, Don Roberts Co. Inc., wanted to make the building a hub for insurance companies. This meant many insurance businesses would have their offices there.
A Historic Designation and Modern Updates
The building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in February 2003. This recognized its importance to history. Later, in 2007, the building was one of the first projects to be updated as part of The Promenade redevelopment. This project helped to improve the downtown area. The upgrades included adding a nightclub and a Jamaican restaurant to the building.
Images for kids
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Relief sculpture on the building
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Another view of the building's relief sculpture
