Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The First National Bank of Galveston
1878
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.
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 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Juneteenth (within shouting distance of this marker); The Strand (within shouting distance of this marker); Mallory-Produce Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Stewart Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Galveston Square (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Central Wharf (about 300 feet away); Samson Heidenheimer Building (about 400 feet away); W. P. Ballinger Law Firm (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galveston.
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.
Also see . . . Rescue of historic Galveston building provides art center with a home. Time was when the First National Bank did business at the heart of a booming center of trade and finance that earned Galveston 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.)
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 659 times since then and 124 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.