Murchison Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murchison Building |
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| General information | |
| Type | Mixed use |
| Location | 201 N. Front Street Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 34°14′16″N 77°56′57″W / 34.237681°N 77.949068°W |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 137.76 ft (41.99 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 11 |
| Floor area | 62,230 sq ft (5,781 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 2, made by Otis Elevator Company, one manually operated |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Kenneth M. Murchison |
| Developer | Murchison National Bank |
| Main contractor | J. Henry Miller, Inc |
The Murchison Building is a tall, eleven-story building made of brick and marble in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. It stands proudly at the corner of Front and Chestnut Street. This historic building is located right by the waterfront. From its windows, you can see many interesting places. To the north, it overlooks the Cotton Exchange and Cape Fear Community College. To the west, you can spot the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial and the Cape Fear River. To the south, there's Riverfront Park and Chandlers Wharf. And to the east, you can see Wilmington Downtown, including its Courthouse.
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History of the Murchison Building
The Murchison Building, often called "The Murch," has been an important part of Wilmington's waterfront for almost 100 years. It was built for a bank called Murchison National Bank. Until 1972, it was even known as the "Murchison National Bank Building." There's another older Murchison National Bank building, built in 1902, right across the street.
When it was first built, the Murchison Building was very modern. It had its own heating system using steam. It also had its own water supply from a special well. For women working or visiting, there was a special restroom on the fourth floor. The second and third floors were set up with gas and electricity. This was so doctors and dentists could use the newest medical tools.
A cool fact about the 1914 Murchison Building is that it had people who operated the elevators! One of these original elevator operators was still working there in 2010. She had been there for 16 years, making her the building's longest-time resident.
How the Murchison Building Was Built
Building the Murchison Building started in August 1913. Before it was built, a club called the 'Cape Fear Club for Men' owned the land. You can still see a bronze plaque on the front of the building that mentions this.
The building was finished in 1914. It was designed by a talented architect named Kenneth M. Murchison. He was from Wilmington but worked in New York.
Murchison Building Architecture
The Murchison Building still stands tall in the downtown skyline, even after nearly a century. It's one of the tallest buildings in Wilmington. A special plaque on the front of the building tells us that its style is called Classical Revival. This means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. Many tall buildings built in the 1910s and 1920s in the United States look similar to the Murchison Building.
Classical Revival buildings often have balanced designs, tall porches with columns, and fronts that look like ancient temples. They also have special decorations, like "dentil cornices," which look like rows of teeth.
Historic Waterfront Area
The Murchison Building is located near the start of Wilmington's Riverwalk. This is a lovely path along the waterfront where people can walk. It passes by many old buildings and shops that face the Cape Fear River. This area used to be a busy port for trading cotton a long time ago. Today, it's full of restaurants, theaters, shops, and places for music. During the summer, you can even enjoy free concerts!
From the Murchison Building, you get an amazing view of Battleship Park and the USS North Carolina. This famous battleship is now a floating museum across the Cape Fear River. It's a huge ship that arrived in its permanent spot on October 2, 1961. The USS North Carolina is a very important historical landmark.
Who Works in the Murchison Building?
In the past, the Murchison Building was home to very important businesses. Banks, dentists, doctors, and even the city's newspaper used to have offices there. Today, many different businesses and organizations are in the building. These include:
- Atlantic Shopper
- e-Interchange, which helps with Internet marketing
- The office for US Senator Richard Burr
- Northern Trust
- Legal Aid of NC, which helps people with legal issues
- A radio station
- Companies that design websites and logos
- Engineers and architects
Soon, a new self-serve drink place called Pour Taproom will also open there!
Past Businesses in the Murchison Building
- Wilmington Star-News newspaper (on the ground floor from 1935-1970)
- First Union National Bank
- Wilmington Chamber of Commerce (from 1914-1924)
- The Edge 88.5 FM Radio Station
