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FIRST NATIONAL BANK

This is a picture of the First National Bank building that was located on the southeast corner of 13th and Farnam. It was built between 1886 and 1888, replacing an earlier two-story First National building at the same location, which had in turn replaced the even earlier one-story wooden building in which First National started.

In his History of Omaha Alfred Sorenson described the interior and exterior of the building in some detail:

"The building has a frontage of 66 feet on Farnam street and 132 feet on Thirteenth, and is six stories high. The architecture may be called modern Romanesque as adapted to public buildings, and presents a very metropolitan appearance. The basement and first story are of granite from Maine, while the upper stories are of St. Louis pressed brick. The arched granite entrance on Farnam street and the vestibule are upon a scale of magnificence that strikes the eye with admiration. The walls and ceiling of the vestibule are of Italian marble. A broad flight of marble stairs leads to the banking room. On the east are two passenger elevators, while on the west is a beautiful iron stairway leading to each floor. The banking room is 62 feet wide, 90 feet long, and 21 feet high, well lighted and ventilated. The directors' rooms and bank parlors, located in the northwest corner, are models of neatness, while the private rooms for customers are in the northeast portion of the banking room. The floor of the lobby is of white Italian marble, the remainders of the floors being of hard wood, while the wainscoting and fixtures are of choice Mexican mahogany, the fixtures being made from special designs. The wainscoting is seven feet in height, richly panelled and carved, and ceilings are handsomely decorated in strict harmony with the general surroundings. The desks form a hollow square. On entering the banking room the president's desk is on the right, while the cashier's comes next. The various departments are arranged around the square, with a view to the greatest convenience. There are three separate and distinct vaults in the south end of the banking room. One of them, the book vault, is 8x8x16 feet and furnished entirely with iron shelving. Next to this is the money vault of the bank, being 8x8x8 feet and is built of the best quality of chrome steel and is entirely burglar-proof. Inside of this vault are nine separate burglar-proof safes, each furnished with the latest improved locks. The outside doors of this vault are made of the best chrome steel and consist, first, of a wicker or day door, next an inside burglar door and then a massive outside door, all of which are furnished with the finest burglar and time locks. Above these vaults is a storage vault 8x8x24 feet. The outside of these vaults has an iron armour, while the money vault is one of the best equipped and safest in the country, as it is without doubt absolutely burglar-proof.

In the basement is a commodious lunch-room for the exclusive use of the employees of the bank, together with toilet-room and storage capacity. Located in the basement are the safety deposit vaults, the main entrance to which is on Thirteenth street, for the use of the patrons. This vault is 8x8x16 feet, built of the same material as the money vault of the bank, and contains 600 boxes. The doors and locks leading to the vault, as well as the vault itself, are absolutely burglar and fire-proof.

The four upper stories of the building are admirably arranged for offices. The corridors have marble floors, marble wainscoting and door casings of the same material. The offices are finished in oak. Toilet accommodations are provided, finished in marble and supplied with the latest improved sanitary appliances.

The entire building is fire-proof, the floors being constructed of iron beams and tile arches, while the partitions are of hard terra cotta blocks. The cost of the structure was about $300,000." (Sorenson, 1889)

Omaha in 1874. Omaha: J.M. Wolfe, 1874. Page 28.

Sorenson, Alfred. History of Omaha. Omaha: Gibson, Miller, & Richardson, 1889. Pages 288-291.