Merchants' National Bank Building (1895), Baltimore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Merchants National Bank Building (1895) in Baltimore
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Merchants' National Bank Building (1895), as pictured in the American Architect and Building News, Nov. 13,1893. No. 934.
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 Location in Maryland
Location in Baltimore
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| Location | 301 Water St., Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Architect | Baldwin & Pennington |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Business and Government Historic District (ID87002065) |
| Added to NRHP | 1987 |
The Merchants' National Bank Building (1895) was an important historic bank building in Baltimore, Maryland. It was located at 301 Water Street. This building was seven stories tall and built in a style called Renaissance Revival. It was designed by a Baltimore architecture company named Baldwin & Pennington and finished between 1893 and 1895. A famous Baltimore businessman named Johns Hopkins was the president of this bank from 1853 until he passed away in 1873. He was also known for his work against slavery and for giving money to good causes.
Contents
The Bank Building's Story
This section tells you about the Merchants' National Bank Building, from how it looked to what happened to it over the years.
Building Design and Early Years
When the seven-story Merchants' National Bank Building was finished in 1895, people were very impressed. The local newspaper, The Baltimore Sun, called it a "splendid building." They thought it was a great new addition to Baltimore's many beautiful office buildings. The newspaper also said that the building was "fire-proof throughout." This was because it had a strong steel frame covered in brick and granite.
The Great Baltimore Fire
Sadly, the idea that the building was "fire-proof" turned out to be wrong. Just nine years later, in 1904, the building was badly damaged by the Great Baltimore Fire. This huge fire destroyed much of the city. Almost everything inside the bank building was burned, except for the main banking rooms on the first floor. After the fire, the bank decided to rebuild its headquarters as a much smaller, two-story building. It stayed this way for nearly 80 years.
Changes in Ownership
In 1912, the Merchants' National Bank joined with another bank called Mechanics NB of Baltimore. They decided to use the Mechanics' bank location instead. The old Merchants' building was then sold to an insurance company called USF&G. This company owned the building until the 1970s.
Later, in 1977, Baltimore Federal Savings & Loan bought the property. In 1982, they built a brand new, much taller building. This new building was 17 stories high and covered the whole block. It was designed in a modern style called Postmodern style. The original two-story part of the old bank building was kept as a historic front, or "facade." Building this new structure cost about $20 million. The architects were Donald N. Coupard Associates, and Whiting-Turner was the main builder.
A Historic Landmark
The original front part of the 1895 Merchants' National Bank Building is now considered a very important historical feature. It is part of the Baltimore Business and Government Historic District. This entire district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Being on this list means it's recognized as a special place that should be protected because of its history.
