Mechanics' Bank and Trust Company Building

The Mechanics' Bank and Trust Company Building is a six-story bank structure in downtown Knoxville with a facade made from Tennessee marble. The interior spaces now house multiple law firms and financial agencies while maintaining original features including pink marble walls in the lobby area.

The building was constructed in 1907 for the Mechanics' Bank and Trust Company and expanded in 1923 when Union National Bank acquired the institution and added additional floors. This transformation reflected the growth of the banking sector and Knoxville's changing economic importance.

The building displays classical architectural elements such as Ionic capitals and a high arched entrance with a pedimental hood at its main facade. These details shape the downtown streetscape and show how early 1900s bank architecture aimed to express prosperity and stability.

The building sits in a highly accessible downtown location and is easy to identify from the street by its distinctive marble cladding and classical architecture. Since the structure now houses private firms, visitors can often see the lobby areas with their original marble finishes when doors are open for business traffic.

During the 1950s, the building housed radio broadcasting studios for station WROL-AM, where local artists performed and recorded music for regional audiences. This use made the location an important gathering place for the city's music scene during that decade.

Location: Tennessee

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 35.96472,-83.91778

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:20