Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The First National Bank of Galveston
1878
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2018
1. The First National Bank of Galveston Marker
Inscription.
The First National Bank of Galveston. The original First National Bank of Galveston Building, designed by P M. Comegys for T. H. McMahan, Esquire, was three-story and erected in 1867 of pressed brick from Baltimore. The Strand front and all the door and window surroundings were of iron, including the cornice. The bank's vault was cast solid in Albany, New York, of chilled iron two inches thick. It was described at the time as being so massive that… "nothing short of a respectable earthquake could thunder it open.” The present two-story building at this site was built after a fire in 1877 destroyed the original building and all others on this block. This present building is a near replica of the original, but diminished by one-story. Indeed, reports say that the cast-iron hood moulds and Strand street front of the original were salvaged and re-used. , The First National Bank opened its doors on September 22, 1865. It was the first national bank in Texas operating under the National Bank Act of 1863 and the second chartered bank in the state. Throughout the latter part of the 19th century it was also the most substantial bank in the State of Texas operated under a federal charter. , The bank's first office was the lower floor of the Hendley Building at the corner of 20th and Strand. The names of the officers throughout the bank's history represented the highest echelons of Galveston's business community, with such leaders serving as: Thomas H. McMahan, Henry Rosenberg, Julius Runge, George Ball, George Sealy, James Moreau Brown, Morris Lasker and Mrs. R. Waverly Smith, the first woman bank president in Galveston. , The First National Bank remained in continuous operation at this location until 1955, when it merged with the Hutchings-Sealy Bank to become the First Hutchings-Sealy National Bank. Following this merger, the old bank building stood largely vacant. In 1969, the Junior League of Galveston purchased and then restored the building to house the Centre on the Strand, whose purpose was to promote the cultural and educational environment of the community. This pilot project helped originate the ongoing preservation and restoration program for The Strand. , In 1972, the Galveston County Cultural Arts Council opened a gallery in the building along with the arts center classes and workshops to promote awareness of the arts in the county.
The original First National Bank of Galveston Building, designed by P M. Comegys for T. H. McMahan, Esquire, was three-story and erected in 1867 of pressed brick from Baltimore. The Strand front and all the door and window surroundings were of iron, including the cornice. The bank's vault was cast solid in Albany, New York, of chilled iron two inches thick. It was described at the time as being so massive that… "nothing short of a respectable earthquake could thunder it open.” The present two-story building at this site was built after a fire in 1877 destroyed the original building and all others on this block. This present building is a near replica of the original, but diminished by one-story. Indeed, reports say that the cast-iron hood moulds and Strand street front of the original were salvaged and re-used.
The First National Bank opened its doors on September 22, 1865. It was the first national bank in Texas operating under the National Bank Act of 1863 and the second chartered bank in the state. Throughout the latter part of the 19th century it was also the most substantial bank in the State of Texas operated under a federal charter.
The bank's first office was the lower floor of the Hendley Building at the corner of 20th and Strand. The names of the officers throughout the bank's history represented the
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highest echelons of Galveston's business community, with such leaders serving as: Thomas H. McMahan, Henry Rosenberg, Julius Runge, George Ball, George Sealy, James Moreau Brown, Morris Lasker and Mrs. R. Waverly Smith, the first woman bank president in Galveston.
The First National Bank remained in continuous operation at this location until 1955, when it merged with the Hutchings-Sealy Bank to become the First Hutchings-Sealy National Bank. Following this merger, the old bank building stood largely vacant. In 1969, the Junior League of Galveston purchased and then restored the building to house the Centre on the Strand, whose purpose was to promote the cultural and educational environment of the community. This pilot project helped originate the ongoing preservation and restoration program for The Strand.
In 1972, the Galveston County Cultural Arts Council opened a gallery in the building along with the arts center classes and workshops to promote awareness of the arts in the county.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.
Location. 29° 18.447′ N, 94° 47.585′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is on Strand Street east of Kempner Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2018
2. The First National Bank of Galveston Marker (side 2)
First National Bank image Courtesy of Rosenberg Library.
is located along the sidewalk, on the south side of Strand Street, directly in front of the subject building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2127 Strand Street, Galveston TX 77550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Marker consists of two large laser-printed metal plaques, one with text and one with an historic photo, mounted vertically at eye-level, on either side of a five-foot tall post.
Regarding The First National Bank of Galveston. The building is currently occupied by the Galveston Arts Center.
3. The First National Bank of Galveston Building (marker visible near lower left corner)
the nickname the "Wall Street of the West." Tiles for the sidewalk were imported from Great Britain and its facade of cast-iron Corinthian columns followed the latest European architectural fashion.
The story of the building began in 1865 with the founding of First National Bank, the first nationally chartered bank in Texas.
With the wealthiest businessmen in Texas on its board, the bank operated out of offices in the Hendley building before erecting the structure two blocks away at 22nd Street and Strand that would ultimately become headquarters for the Galveston Arts Center. (Submitted on February 27, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2018
4. First National Bank of Galveston - 1878 (marker visible on sidewalk in front of building)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 620 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 27, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
