Old Houston National Bank
Also known as: Franklin Bank
Why it's listed
Dominating the corner of Main and Franklin Streets in old downtown Houston, this 1928 bank building was designed by Hedrick and Gottlieb for the Houston National Bank. Its black granite base, Bedford limestone walls, bronze and plate glass support a Neo-Classical Doric design, with eight fluted columns thirty-five feet high and a cornice frieze of cast bronze discs. Inside, a banking room ninety by one hundred eight feet rises to a richly ornamented rotunda, finished in Travertine and Sienna marble, with bronze chandeliers and a marble stairway to the safety deposit vault. At the time it was second in height only to one bank in New York. The building was listed as a lavish expression of Houston's banking wealth before the Stock Market Crash. The bank moved out in 1964, and later occupants restored the interior. When Franklin Bank entered receivership in 1975, the building stood vacant, and local preservationists hoped recognition would encourage its preservation.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of Neo-Classical style and perhaps the most impressive bank building in Houston when built. It represents the wealth of Houston banking interests before the Stock Market Crash. The exterior is virtually intact and the lavish interior only slightly altered.
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 75001990, listed July 17, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 202 Main St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | July 17, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001990 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Hedrick & Gottlieb, Inc. |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical (Doric); Neo-Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since March 1975, when the last occupant, Franklin Bank, went into receivership; condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Main Street/Market Square Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.76305, -95.36049 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 75001990.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002189
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.