Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Allen and Millard Bank
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016
1. Allen and Millard Bank Marker
Inscription.
Allen and Millard Bank. . The Federal Reserve Bank of Montana identifies the Allen and Millard Bank, which opened here in 1864, as the first real bank in Montana Territory. While other businesses in the Territory called themselves banks, most were actually express companies that exchanged gold for cash or offered storage space in their safes. Allen and Millard in fact had the power to write drafts on a New York bank. The building itself, beautifully maintained, is one of the Virginia City's oldest and best-preserved stone buildings. Although the original French doors and tall, narrow windows were replaced circa 1900, the front facade features the original ashlar stone, bracketed wooden cornice and wooden window heads allowing the building to retain its 1860s appearance. The bank operated as Hall and Bennett into the early 1900s and then became the Madison State Bank which did business until 1930.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Montana identifies the Allen and Millard Bank, which opened here in 1864, as the first real bank in Montana Territory. While other businesses in the Territory called themselves banks, most were actually express companies that exchanged gold for cash or offered storage space in their safes. Allen and Millard in fact had the power to write drafts on a New York bank. The building itself, beautifully maintained, is one of the Virginia City's oldest and best-preserved stone buildings. Although the original French doors and tall, narrow windows were replaced circa 1900, the front facade features the original ashlar stone, bracketed wooden cornice and wooden window heads allowing the building to retain its 1860s appearance. The bank operated as Hall and Bennett into the early 1900s and then became the Madison State Bank which did business until 1930.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 45° 17.605′ N, 111° 56.705′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is on Wallace Street (State Highway 287) east of Van Buren Street, on the right when traveling
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east. Marker is a large metal plaque, mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, between the two front windows. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 Wallace Street, Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Allen and Millard Bank Marker (view from Wallace Street boardwalk, west of bank building)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 229 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
