Between 6th Avenue and Broadway on Stark Street
The U.S. National Bank (USNB) Building is a four-story building and is considered Portland’s finest example of classical architecture. “Classical” means the design is based on ideas from ancient Roman civilization, where buildings were made to look strong, balanced, and important.
The architect of the building was A.E. Doyle, one of the most important architects in Portland in the early 1900s. Doyle designed many of the city’s best-known buildings, and the USNB building shows his skill in creating a structure that looks powerful and dignified.
Although the USNB building appears to be made of solid stone, it is actually a concrete structure. The outside is covered with granite on the lower levels and terra cotta on the upper levels. Terra cotta is a type of clay that has been baked in a furnace to make it strong and durable. This combination made the building look rich and impressive while still being modern for its time.
From street level, the most noticeable features are the large classical columns and the beautiful bronze doors. These elements make the entrance feel grand and important. If you look up, you’ll see the name “United States National Bank” in large letters and a very decorated top section of the building, showing detailed craftsmanship.
The bronze doors are especially important. They were designed by sculptor Avard Fairbanks. If you look closely at the doors on Sixth Avenue, you can find Fairbanks’ signature and the year 1931. That is when the doors were installed — even though parts of the bank building were completed earlier, in 1917 and 1925. The building was constructed in two sections, but they were joined so carefully that it is hard to tell they were built at different times.
Even more interesting, the third floor of the Wells Fargo Building next door connects to the USNB building at the same level. This shows how downtown buildings sometimes shared space and were designed to work together.
The bronze doors tell stories through art. The Broadway doors show the development of transportation in Oregon, while the Sixth Avenue doors show ideas about international goodwill. Two smaller bronze doors beside the main Sixth Avenue doors were added at the same time, making the entrance look balanced and complete
The USNB building stands as a symbol of strength, trust, and Portland’s growth during the early 20th century. Its classical design and detailed artwork make it one of the most important historic buildings downtown.
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Discussion Questions:
Why would a bank want large columns and bronze doors?
What can you see at the top of USNB? Eagles, lions’ heads and cupids?
Why do you think art was included on the doors?
Vocabulary:
classical columns
bronze
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State Education Standards:
Social Studies 3.11. Describe how individuals, groups, events, and developments have shaped the communities and regions. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.12. Compare and contrast the history of the local community to other communities in the region. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.17. Use a variety of historical sources (artifacts, pictures, documents) to identify factual evidence. Historical Thinking