Merchants Bank Building (Providence, Rhode Island) Explained

Merchants Bank Building
Location:Providence, Rhode Island
Coordinates:41.8247°N -71.41°W
Built:1855
Architect:Morse & Hall
Architecture:Early Commercial, Italianate
Added:November 21, 1977
Refnum:77000002
Nrhp Type2:cp
Nocat:yes
Designated Nrhp Type2:February 10, 1984
Partof:Downtown Providence Historic District
Partof Refnum:84001967

The Merchants Bank Building is a historic commercial building at 32 Westminster Street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It is a six-story brownstone structure, designed by Alpheus C. Morse and Clifton A. Hall and built in 1855–57. When built, this Italianate structure was one of the first buildings of Providence's financial district, and is now surrounded by much larger modern skyscrapers. It is architecturally reminiscent of Roman palazzos, with an arcaded ground floor, second-level windows topped by alternating segmented-arch and triangular pediments, and a projecting cornice with dentil moulding and modillions. The building served as the headquarters of the Merchants Bank until it merged with Providence National Bank in 1920.[1]

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NRHP nomination for Merchants Bank Building. Rhode Island Preservation. 2014-10-23.