Bank of Montreal Head Office explained

Bank of Montreal Head Office
Édifice de la Banque de Montréal
Address:119, rue Saint-Jacques
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 1L6
Coordinates:45.5049°N -73.5579°W
Current Tenants:Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal Museum
Completion Date:1847
Destruction Date:-->
Floor Count:1
Architect:John Wells
Architecture Firm:McKim, Mead & White
Main Contractor:Anglin-Norcross Ltd. [1]

The Bank of Montreal's Head Office (French: Édifice de la Banque de Montréal) is located on 119, rue Saint Jacques (119, Saint Jacques Street) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, across the Place d'Armes from the Notre-Dame Basilica in the Old Montreal neighbourhood. The Bank of Montreal is the oldest bank in Canada, founded in 1817. Although it still remains the bank's legal headquarters, its operational head office was moved to First Canadian Place in Toronto in 1977 due to political instability in Quebec.

The centrepiece of the complex is the Bank of Montreal Main Branch, a Pantheon-like building designed by John Wells in 1847. The building was inspired by the design of the former headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh.[2]

The building is in neoclassical style. The sculpted pediment of the building was done by Sir John Steell. The bronze pediment (23 tons, 16-meter wide) was melted in Scotland.[3] Enlargements to the building were made in 1901–1905 by the New York City firm of McKim, Mead & White.[4]

Bank of Montreal Museum

The Bank of Montreal Museum features exhibits about the history of the bank, including a 19th-century teller's window, photos, coins and banknotes, cheques, and mechanical piggybanks. The displays are located in the passage between the old building and the current head office. The museum is open during regular bank hours and admission is free.[5]

Gallery

File:85 William England - Montreal from Nôtre Dame basilica.jpg|Bank of Montreal under construction (1859)File:St James Street, showing Bank of Montreal & Post Office, Montreal.JPG|Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch ca. 1909File:Banque de Montreal Place d Armes Montreal 02.jpg|Bank of Montreal main Montreal branchFile:Bank of Montreal 3 db.jpg|Bank of Montreal main Montreal branchFile:Bank of Montreal 4 db.jpg|Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch

See also

Other bank buildings in Montreal:

Other BMO buildings:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anglin, James Penrose | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada.
  2. Encyclopedia: John Wells. Epstein. Clarence. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica-Dominion. 19 October 2022.
  3. Web site: Proulx . Gilles . 2016-10-22 . La fondation de la Banque de Montréal (1817) . 2023-08-29 . Le Journal de Montréal.
  4. http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/tour/etape15/eng/15text2a.htm Rue Saint-Jacques, Old Montreal Web site
  5. Web site: Bank of Montreal Museum. Montreal Tourism. 8 February 2014. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924102947/http://www.smq.qc.ca/mtd/museumguide/datasheets/institution.php?ID=50-55-1233. dead.