The First National Bank Building, Long Beach
If Long Beach buildings had personalities, the First National Bank Building would be that stylish grandparent who once wore a monocle, briefly tried modern minimalism in the '50s, then came roaring back in the '80s with a proper vintage revival.
Originally built in 1906, this proud structure came courtesy of Los Angeles architects Robert F. Train and Robert E. Williams鈥攖wo men who clearly had a soft spot for the French Renaissance Revival look. Think yellow pressed brick on the 鈥渓ook-at-me鈥� sides, red common brick on the 鈥渄on鈥檛-look-too-close鈥� ones, and a flair for fancy without going full royal.
Then came 1907, when the building鈥檚 crowning glory was added: a six-foot clock tower, because what鈥檚 a bank without a giant timepiece to remind everyone it鈥檚 time to pay your loans.
For a while, the building strutted confidently on Pine Avenue, but the 1950s arrived with their beige dreams and chrome ambitions. In the name of modernization, much of the original ornamentation鈥攊ncluding the elegant cornice鈥攚as either yanked off or hidden under a disguise of flat, uninspired panels.
Thankfully, history staged a comeback. In the 1980s, thanks to some well-placed federal tax incentives , the building was lovingly restored to its former French-inspired glory. Once again, it looked like itself鈥攁nd proudly earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
So next time you're strolling through downtown Long Beach, glance up at that clock tower. It's not just telling you the time; it's ticking out a century-long story of style, survival, and one very classy comeback.
Originally built in 1906, this proud structure came courtesy of Los Angeles architects Robert F. Train and Robert E. Williams鈥攖wo men who clearly had a soft spot for the French Renaissance Revival look. Think yellow pressed brick on the 鈥渓ook-at-me鈥� sides, red common brick on the 鈥渄on鈥檛-look-too-close鈥� ones, and a flair for fancy without going full royal.
Then came 1907, when the building鈥檚 crowning glory was added: a six-foot clock tower, because what鈥檚 a bank without a giant timepiece to remind everyone it鈥檚 time to pay your loans.
For a while, the building strutted confidently on Pine Avenue, but the 1950s arrived with their beige dreams and chrome ambitions. In the name of modernization, much of the original ornamentation鈥攊ncluding the elegant cornice鈥攚as either yanked off or hidden under a disguise of flat, uninspired panels.
Thankfully, history staged a comeback. In the 1980s, thanks to some well-placed federal tax incentives , the building was lovingly restored to its former French-inspired glory. Once again, it looked like itself鈥攁nd proudly earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
So next time you're strolling through downtown Long Beach, glance up at that clock tower. It's not just telling you the time; it's ticking out a century-long story of style, survival, and one very classy comeback.
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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The First National Bank Building on Map
Sight Name: The First National 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