Farmers and Merchants Bank Building, Long Beach
With its soaring columns and marble grandeur, the Farmers and Merchants Bank Building looks like it鈥檚 been waiting for its close-up since the Roaring Twenties. Finished in 1923 and proudly holding the title of the city鈥檚 first skyscraper, this ten-story gem truts into the skyline.
The building, leans hard into the Italian Renaissance Revival style. That angled entrance? Framed in Verona red marble, held up by eight imposing Ionic columns, and crowned with a Roman numeral clock that practically dares you to run late. From the outside, it鈥檚 all gravitas and classical drama. But step inside, and the real show begins.
The original interior has been impressively preserved, and it's not shy about its elegance. A balcony-level walkway runs along both sides of the main banking hall, held up by red marble columns. Below lies a floor of Tennessee pink marble, while above, a stunning amber-glass skylight鈥攎ade of over 600 glowing panes鈥攑ours light through a network of golden terra-cotta beams. It鈥檚 like a sun-drenched Roman villa鈥� with teller windows.
Decorative details, ancient-inspired designs, and a layout that mixes elegance with everyday function complete the scene. And in a rare early nod to workplace wellness, the building came fully loaded with committee rooms, a boardroom, ventilation systems, and yes, even free lunches for employees in an on-site dining area.
Still standing proud, this banking hall-turned-office landmark is more than a relic鈥攊t's a reminder that sometimes, the best kind of interest is architectural.
The building, leans hard into the Italian Renaissance Revival style. That angled entrance? Framed in Verona red marble, held up by eight imposing Ionic columns, and crowned with a Roman numeral clock that practically dares you to run late. From the outside, it鈥檚 all gravitas and classical drama. But step inside, and the real show begins.
The original interior has been impressively preserved, and it's not shy about its elegance. A balcony-level walkway runs along both sides of the main banking hall, held up by red marble columns. Below lies a floor of Tennessee pink marble, while above, a stunning amber-glass skylight鈥攎ade of over 600 glowing panes鈥攑ours light through a network of golden terra-cotta beams. It鈥檚 like a sun-drenched Roman villa鈥� with teller windows.
Decorative details, ancient-inspired designs, and a layout that mixes elegance with everyday function complete the scene. And in a rare early nod to workplace wellness, the building came fully loaded with committee rooms, a boardroom, ventilation systems, and yes, even free lunches for employees in an on-site dining area.
Still standing proud, this banking hall-turned-office landmark is more than a relic鈥攊t's a reminder that sometimes, the best kind of interest is architectural.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Long Beach. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Farmers and Merchants Bank Building on Map
Sight Name: Farmers and Merchants Bank Building
Sight Location: Long Beach, USA (See walking tours in Long Beach)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Long Beach, USA (See walking tours in Long Beach)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Long Beach, California
Create Your Own Walk in Long Beach
Creating your own self-guided walk in Long Beach is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Long Beach Historical Buildings Tour
Long Beach isn鈥檛 just about sun, surf, and sand, it can put its suit on as well to impress anyone. Behind the palm trees and breezy boardwalks, downtown Long Beach struts out a surprising collection of architectural gems that span styles and centuries.
Starting in no particular order, the Breakers Hotel is a 1920s oceanfront darling that once rolled out the red carpet for Hollywood royalty.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Starting in no particular order, the Breakers Hotel is a 1920s oceanfront darling that once rolled out the red carpet for Hollywood royalty.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Long Beach Murals Walking Tour
Long Beach's creative side can come from more unusual places, like its... walls. Think of it as one giant, sun-soaked art book you can walk through鈥攅xcept instead of turning pages, you鈥檙e sliding into more secluded alleyways.
The granddaddy among the murals has the priority: the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium Mural, a 1938 ceramic wonder now hanging out at Harvey Milk Promenade Park.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
The granddaddy among the murals has the priority: the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium Mural, a 1938 ceramic wonder now hanging out at Harvey Milk Promenade Park.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Long Beach Introduction Walking Tour
Sprawling comfortably along the sunny coast of Southern California, Long Beach is the kind of place where beachwear and business suits peacefully coexist鈥攁nd where a morning stroll can lead you from seaside boardwalks to Art Deco facades without missing a beat. It's a city with sand between its toes and history in its bones.
Before it became all sunshine and beachside charm, Long Beach... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Before it became all sunshine and beachside charm, Long Beach... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles