Golden griffin flanking entrance to the Merchant's National Bank building, Grinnell, Iowa.
On our recent visit to Grinnell, Iowa, home of Grinnell College, our alma mater, Art and I did a walking tour of the historic downtown. On the corner of 4th and Broad Streets is the famous Merchant’sNational Bank, designed by Chicago architect Louis Sullivan. It opened to great fanfare on New Year’s Day, 1915. Today the banking business is housed in an addition in the back and the original building is a museum and visitor center. A sign at the front door beckoned us in.
Welcome sign.
Inside, a helpful Chamber of Commerce representative answered our questions and invited us to look around and help ourselves to the brochures displayed on the counter.
Interior of bank. At the front facing the street are two offices where bank managers could meet with customers.
With the bright light and dark wood paneling, the room almost feels like a church--a monument to commerce. As we looked around and gazed up at the skylight and wall decorations, we certainly felt in awe. Everything inside the bank is carefully chosen and beautifully crafted—from the hand carved wooden check desk and pink marble floors, to the mosaic clock and tall stained-glass windows.
Stained glass windows, 15 feet high and 40 feet wide.
Mosaic clock over the door, inside the bank.
The Merchant’s National Bank is one of eight jewel box banks designed by Sullivan for midwestern towns. The phrase ‘jewel box’ was coined by Sullivan to convey the simplicity of the brick structure—a giant jewel box-- while underscoring the security of the objects stored inside. To quote one of the brochures: “What distinguishes the buildings is Sullivan’s unparalleled ornamentation—from awe-inspiring stained-glass windows, to the majestic griffins standing guard at the entrance to the geometric/organic explosion of terracotta that dominates the façade.”
Louis Sullivan.
Louis Sullivan is known as the father of modern architecture and was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright. His work inspired the development of the Prairie School of Architecture. A display about Louis Sullivan and his accomplishments fill one corner of the room.
Ornate facade with stained window inset over the doorway to the bank.
The Merchant’s National Bank is designated as a National Historic Landmark. At the back of the historic chamber glass doors lead to the modern functioning bank, operated by Wells Fargo, housed in a 1974 addition to the building.
When Art and I were students at the college in the 1960s, Art had an account at Poweshiek County National Bank, the then owner of the bank. (The bank has changed names several times through the years.) As we revisited on our recent trip and signed the visitors' guestbook, it brought back many memories.
Signing the guest book at the check desk.
For more about the Grinnell's Jewel Box Bank go to https://www.grinnellchamber.many org/ or https://www.grinnelliowa.gov/103/Louis-Sullivan-Bank .Click here for the BROCHURE.
Ornament detail.
