The Omaha National Bank Building was built in 1888â€"89 at 1650 Farnam Street in Downtown Omaha, Nebraska. Built in the Italian Renaissance style, the building was saved from demolition by a rehabilitation in 1978. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the building was originally known as the New York Life Insurance Building; it was renamed in 1906.
History
Originally occupied by the New York Life Insurance Company, the building was purchased by the Kountze Brothers's Omaha National Bank in 1909. Constructed in 1888â€"89, the building was designed in the Renaissance Revival style by Frederick Elmer Hill (1857â€"1929) of the New York City architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White. The firm designed an identical office tower, the New York Life Building (Kansas City, Missouri), and was Omaha's first 10-story structure.
Omaha National Bank
Started in 1856, Omaha National Bank's original location was at 212 South 13th Street. In 1906 they purchased the building from the New York Life Insurance Company and renovated it completely.
Omaha pioneer Ezra Millard was the first president of Omaha National Bank. Future Omaha mayor and Nebraska Senator Joseph H. Millard was president of the Omaha National Bank in after Millard's departure in 1871.
Present
Omaha National Bank merged with another bank and moved out of the building in 1972. After being vacated it was slated for demolition. However, the building was rehabilitated in 1978 and converted to office space. Today, called The Omaha Building, it is home to the law firm of Kutak Rock.
See also
- History of Omaha
- Economy of Omaha, Nebraska
ONB moved to the woodman tower in 1970 no merger at that time, a bank merger happened a few years later long after the move to the woodman tower.
External links
- Historic photo. The bank is the third from the right.
- Original postcard photos of the building.
- Historical images of the building. Nebraska Memories
References
