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National City Bank Building
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| National City Bank Building |
| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) |
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| Location: |
55 Wall street, Manhattan, New York City, New York[1] |
| Built/Founded: |
1836-1841, additions 1907-1910[2] |
| Architect: |
Isaiah Rogers (original), McKim, Mead, & White (additions) |
| Architectural style(s): |
Greek Revival (original), Roman (additions) |
| Designated as NHL: |
June 2, 1978 [3] |
| Added to NRHP: |
June 2, 1978 |
| NRHP Reference#: |
78001875[4] |
The National City Bank (New York) building at 55 Wall Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York was originally the Merchants Exchange, a Greek Revival building built between 1836 and 1841. Between 1862 and around 1907, the U.S. Customs Service used the building before moving into the U.S. Customhouse on Bowling Green.[1] In 1907, the National City Bank[5] hired Charles F. McKim[2] to increase the building to 7 floors and redesign the interior. The National City Bank (now Citibank) was closely tied to the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
Architecture
The building was designed by Boston architect Isaiah Rogers in classical style and built in 1836-1842. The upper floors (the second tier of columns) was designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, who also redesigned the interior (1904-1910.) The magnificent classical revival atrium, now one of the most prestigious event venues in Manhattan, was built as an unusually impressive banking room. The main room is an enormous space with a a sixty-foot-high central dome. Monumental Corinthian columns support an elegant entablature that circles the space. The room features elegant gray marble floors and walls, a coffered ceiling, and delicate mezzanine railings.
The exterior of this building was designated a New York City Landmark in 1965. The building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1978.[3],[6],[7]
In 1998 it became the Regent Hotel for a short period of time, and recently has become part of the Cipriani empire of restaurants and ballrooms. The main banking hall "now serves as one of the most elegant ballrooms in the world"[8]. It has been called a "facility unequaled in America"[9]
References
- ^ a b Dolkart, Andrew S. & Postal, Matthew A.; Guide to New York City Landmarks, 3rd Edition; New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004. ISBN 0-471-36900-4; p.16-17.
- ^ a b NHL Writeup
- ^ a b "National City Bank Building". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service (2007-09-16).
- ^ New+York County listings at the National Register of Historic Places
- ^ NHL Details
- ^ ""National City Bank (Merchant's Exchange)", December 1976, by George R. AdamsPDF (546 KB) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination]". National Park Service (1976-12).
- ^ "National City Bank (Merchant's Exchange)--Accompanying photos, 2 exterior and 1 interior, from 1976.PDF (668 KB) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination]". National Park Service (1976-12).
- ^ Harris, Bill; One Thousand New York Buildings, 1st Edition; Black Dog and Leventhal. 2002. ISBN 1-57912-443-7; p.36.
- ^ White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot; AIA Guide to New York City, 4th Edition; New York Chapter, American Institute of Architects; Crown Publishers/Random House. 2000. ISBN 0-8129-31069-8; ISBN 0-8129-3107-6. p.17.
External links
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New York City Historic Sites |
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