Louisiana State Bank Building facts for kids
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Louisiana State Bank Building
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Louisiana State Bank in 1934
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 Location in East New Orleans
Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 403-409 Royal St., New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1820 |
| Architect | Benjamin H. Latrobe |
| Part of | Vieux Carre Historic District (ID66000377) |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004387 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 4, 1983 |
| Designated NHL | May 4, 1983 |
| Designated NHLDCP | December 21, 1965 |
The Louisiana State Bank Building is a very old and important building. It stands at Royal and Conti Streets in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. This building was finished in 1820. It was the last building designed by a famous architect named Benjamin Henry Latrobe. Sadly, he passed away in New Orleans before it was even built.
For many years, the building was known as the Manheim Galleries. This was because an antique shop called Manheim Galleries was there for a long time. More recently, it has been used as a special place for events called "Latrobe's". Because of its history and design, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1983. This means it's a really important place in American history.
About the Building's Design
The Louisiana State Bank Building is located near Jackson Square. It sits at the corner of Royal and Conti Streets. It is a two-story building. Its walls are made of brick and covered with stucco. The roof is low and flat, surrounded by a short wall called a parapet.
The first floor is taller than the second. It has rounded covers above its windows and doors. The main door is set back a bit from the street. Both sides of the building that face the street have pretty wrought iron balconies. These balconies add to its classic New Orleans look.
A Look at Its History
The Louisiana State Bank started in 1818. It was the very first bank in the new state of Louisiana. The bank held a contest to find a design for its new building. We don't know who won that contest.
However, the job was given to Benjamin Henry Latrobe. He was already a very successful architect. He had designed many important public buildings. One of his famous works was the Baltimore Basilica. Latrobe came to New Orleans but sadly died in 1820.
The bank building was finished in 1822. It cost about $55,000 to build back then. Over the years, the building has been used for many different businesses. For most of the 1900s, it was home to the Manheim Gallery. This was a well-known antique shop. During that time, a roof was added to cover the outdoor courtyard. This connected the main building to a smaller service building. As of 2014, a business called Latrobe's on Royal uses the building for weddings and other events.
