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The First National Bank Building was the tallest skyscraper in the two
Carolinas when it opened in 1926 on the Tryon Street edge of Third
Ward. Skyscrapers with banks in them have dominated the Charlotte skyline
ever since the early 1900's. The architect of this imposing Neo
Classical style edifice was the seemingly ubiquitous Louis Asbury, Sr.
Look up and you will see some wonderful examples of the classical
ornamentation that Asbury employed. High up on the building are
Buddhas, lions, and pharaohs. The magnificent archway over the front
entrance is decorated with beehives, owls, and other symbols of thrift
and industry. Go inside and look at the historical exhibit in the
display window in the elevator lobby. It will tell you all about the
First National Bank Building.
The president of First National Bank was H. M. McAden. Like so many of Charlotte's New South business leaders, McAden had made his money in the textile industry. That he went into banking is no surprise, because the rise of Charlotte as a banking center was tied directly to the emergence of Charlotte and its environs as a major cotton mill region at the turn of the century. Indicative of Charlotte's importance as a financial center was the establishment here of a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank.
Its initial location was on the top floors of the First National Bank Building. Keep your eyes open for bankers on South Tryon Street. They're not hard to spot. Look for conservative business suits and white shirts.
Continue south on Tryon Street, cross Fourth Street, and stop at the skyscraper in the middle of the block.
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