New Hampshire Bank Building

New Hampshire Bank Building
Location 22--26 Market Sq., Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Coordinates 43°4′36.6″N 70°45′26″W / 43.076833°N 70.75722°W / 43.076833; -70.75722Coordinates: 43°4′36.6″N 70°45′26″W / 43.076833°N 70.75722°W / 43.076833; -70.75722
Area 0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built 1803
Architect Eliphalet Ladd
Architectural style Classical Revival, Beaux Arts
NRHP Reference #

79000207

[1]
Added to NRHP September 10, 1979

The New Hampshire Bank Building is a historic bank building at 22-26 Market Square, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was, until 1998, the oldest bank building in the United States continuously used as a bank. It was built in 1803 for the New Hampshire Bank after a house which was serving as a bank burned in the great fire of 1802. New Hampshire Bank, chartered in 1792, was the first bank in the state.[2] Eleven different banks occupied the premises over the 195 period.[3]

Among those occupying offices on the second floor were New Hampshire Governor Levi Woodbury, his pupil, later President, Franklin Pierce, and New Hampshire Attorney General Jeremiah Mason. All three were U.S. Senators from New Hampshire for one or more terms.[2]

In the 30 foot (9 m) high lobby hangs a giant stained glass dome depicting the New Hampshire State Seal.[3]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 Gurney, Caleb Stevens (1902). Portsmouth, historic and picturesque: a volume of information. Portsmouth, NH. p. 21. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  3. 1 2 Giordano, Alice (May 27, 2000). "Historic Bank Building Goes Up For Auction". The Boston Globe: E1.


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