German Bank (Dubuque, Iowa)

German Bank
Location 342 Main St.
Dubuque, Iowa
Coordinates 42°29′49.8″N 90°39′53.7″W / 42.497167°N 90.664917°W / 42.497167; -90.664917Coordinates: 42°29′49.8″N 90°39′53.7″W / 42.497167°N 90.664917°W / 42.497167; -90.664917
Area less than one acre
Built 1901
Architect W.G. Williamson
John Spencer
Part of Old Main Historic District (#83000356)
NRHP reference # 78001216[1]
Added to NRHP March 28, 1978

German Bank, also known as the Silver Dollar Tavern, is a historic building located in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. The city's German community was its most prominent ethnic group in the mid to late 19th century.[2] Like many other cities in Iowa of that area it had banks that were owned by, and catered to, members of their particular immigrant communities. T.H. Thedinga, the city's first German-born mayor, started this bank in 1864 to serve immigrant Germans. In 1868 it moved from its original location on Main Street and into the former Dubuque Miners' Bank building. That building was torn down in 1901 in order to construct this one. It was designed by Dubuque architect John Spencer in partnership with Chicago architect W.G. Williamson. The three-story brick building has a highly decorative main facade composed of polished pink granite on the main floor and terra cotta on the upper two floors. Decorative elements include egg-and-dart, Greek fret, a row of small lions' heads, bay windows, scroll pediments, imperial German eagles, and a bracketed cornice with dentils. The second and third floors are dominated by four fluted, banded columns with Corinthian capitals.

The bank remained in operation here until 1932 when it closed in the Great Depression. Since 1946 the first floor has housed a restaurant and bar. The building was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[1] and it was included as a contributing property in the Old Main Historic District in 1983.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Donna Carter. "German Bank". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-01-07. with photos
  3. ↑ Charles C. Vanda. "Old Main Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-01-12. with photos


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