Old Second National Bank, Prairie School bank building in Aurora, Illinois.
The Old Second National Bank is a Prairie School style bank building located in Aurora, Illinois. The structure features ten brick columns that extend from a pink granite foundation to a red-tiled saddleback roof.
Architect George Grant Elmslie designed this financial institution in 1924 during the final years of the Prairie School movement. The building received National Register of Historic Places designation in 1979, recognizing its architectural value.
The interior holds a three-panel mural by John Norton showing scenes from Aurora during the 1830s. This artwork tells the story of how the city looked in its early years.
The building stands in downtown Aurora and is easy to reach on foot when exploring the city's historic streets. A visit works best during daylight to fully appreciate the details of the facade and roof.
The interior floor features red tiles arranged in patterns that create the look of an oriental carpet. This thoughtful design gives the bank a distinctive visual feature that emphasizes Prairie School elegance.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
