Alex. Brown & Sons Building, Historic bank building in Baltimore, United States
The Alex Brown & Sons Building is a 1901 bank building featuring a central banking hall with marble columns and an ornate stained glass dome in the Georgian Revival style. The structure at East Baltimore Street displays the architectural quality that defined major banking institutions of that era.
The building was constructed in 1901 following Georgian designs and survived the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 with notable damage. Despite the intense heat, the structure retained its architectural integrity, though visible cracks appeared near the entrance in its brownstone facade.
The building housed the oldest investment banking firm in the United States, which operated independently from 1800 until its acquisition by Bankers Trust in 1997. Today, visitors walk through spaces that served generations of bankers and shaped the city's financial story.
The building is located downtown and easily accessible on foot via East Baltimore Street. Visitors should note that access may be limited and it is wise to check local information before visiting.
The building's low height created a thermal updraft during the 1904 fire that prevented flying embers from landing on its roof and secured its survival. This unexpected architectural feature played a key role in saving the structure from total destruction.
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