Centennial National Bank
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 to a design by Frank Furness, the Centennial National Bank stands at the southeast corner of 32nd and Market Streets in West Philadelphia. It is one of the major surviving works of Furness, whose designs are central to Victorian architecture in Philadelphia. The building is regarded as one of the finest pieces of architecture in West Philadelphia, and the nomination treats it as a leading example of the city's Victorian commercial design. The property was placed on the National Register in 1971 on the strength of its architectural importance. In the early 1970s the building was used as a First Pennsylvania Bank office, while Drexel University held an option on the site as part of its campus expansion. The nomination's significance rests on its design quality and on the importance of Furness's surviving work in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bank is a significant work of architecture and one of the major surviving works of Frank Furness. It is described as one of the major examples of Victorian architecture in Philadelphia and one of the best pieces of architecture in West Philadelphia.
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 71000721, listed March 11, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3200 Market St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | March 11, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000721 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876 |
| Architect / builder | Frank Furness (architect) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by First Pennsylvania Bank and in use as its Centennial office at the time of a 1972 letter; the same letter says Drexel University held an option on the property and intended to demolish it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.95503, -75.18694 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 71000721.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5059186
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.