Home Bank and Trust Company
Also known as: Manufacturers Naitonal Bank
Why it's listed
Rising six stories at the Six Corners intersection of Ashland Avenue, Division Street and Milwaukee Avenue on Chicago's Northwest Side, this bank and office building was designed in 1926 by Chicago architect Karl M. Vitzthum. It was one of his earliest bank designs; he later designed more than fifty banks in the Midwest. The main elevations are Bedford limestone above a polished granite base, with two-story arched bays, Corinthian pilasters, a dentiled cornice and a three-story arch marking the entrance. Carved panels of allegorical figures symbolize commerce, agriculture, shipping and manufacturing. Inside, a three-story banking hall has marble arcades, balconies, a beamed ceiling with an opalescent glass skylight, black marble teller cages and gilded writing tables. A basement holds the vault and safe deposit area. The building is listed for its local architectural significance and its well-preserved exterior and interior, which reflect the prominence of a successful neighborhood bank.
Significance in brief: The building is locally significant under Criterion C for architecture as a Renaissance Revival structure with a high degree of exterior and interior integrity. Its Bedford limestone facade, arched bays, sculptural relief panels, three-story banking hall and basement vault level convey the permanence and opulence of a prominent neighborhood bank.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 07000061, listed February 21, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1200 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | February 21, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000061 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Karl M. Vitzthum (architect) |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance / Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function are both financial institution; the form notes signage of MB Financial Bank on the entrance arch and offices on the upper floors. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.90383, -87.66808 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 07000061.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65073420
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.