Overview

The Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank is a prominent example of Beaux Arts design for a financial building. 

• Location: 115 4th Street South 
• Neighborhood: Downtown West 

Historic profile

The Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank is a prominent example of Beaux Arts design for a financial building. 

Local architecture firm Long and Kees designed the original building in 1891. The Farmers and Mechanics Bank was the only mutual savings bank in Minneapolis. Beaux Arts was a popular style for institutional buildings at the time. It was originally a small one-story building in the city's central business district. It has limestone walls and a symmetrical façade. The main entrance is centered under three stone archways and low set of stairs. Architect William Kenyon designed the building's expansion in 1908. The bank was now two stories tall and had five bays instead of three. The two non-fluted sets of Corinthian columns became four fluted sets. The triangular pediment at the top was simplified from its Victorian style. It had an additional layer of elaborate stone ornamentation. 

Over time, new buildings were built on either side of the bank. This resulted in alterations to the building sidewalls. The original marble walls and iron and stained glass dome remain. 

In 1942 the bank moved out of this building to a new location at 88 6th Street South. The original building on 4th Street was converted into commercial space.