First Bank of the United States, Greek Revival bank building in Philadelphia, United States.
The First Bank of the United States is a freestanding bank building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, constructed from white marble and positioned on Third Street near Independence Hall. The facade shows six Corinthian columns supporting a triangular pediment above the main entrance, and the side views reveal the rectangular footprint of the structure, while the windows are arranged symmetrically along the walls.
Alexander Hamilton proposed the creation of the bank to consolidate the war debts from the Revolution, and construction began in 1794 under the supervision of Samuel Blodgett, who drew inspiration from ancient Greek models. When Congress declined to renew the charter in 1811, the bank ceased operations, and the building later changed hands several times before receiving landmark protection.
The name comes from the first nationwide institution created to organize banking in the young United States, when private and public finance had no clear separation. Today the building belongs to the National Park Service and usually remains closed to visitors, but it can be viewed from the outside and gives a sense of how architectural forms were meant to express political ideals.
The building sits at the corner of Third Street and Chestnut Street in the historic district of Philadelphia, within a short walk of other founding-era landmarks. Since interior access is usually not available, walking around the perimeter allows you to view the facade and proportions from different angles.
Although the structure is often associated with Greek architecture, it was among the earliest applications of this form in North America and later influenced numerous public buildings across the country. The design was also meant to mark a clear departure from British models and make a new republican aesthetic visible.
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