National Farmers’ Bank

The National Farmers’ Bank in Owatonna, Minnesota, was designed by the renowned architect Louis Sullivan in 1908. This bank is noted for its innovative design, which balances a sense of security with aesthetic appeal.12

The building features a simple cube form with large arched windows on two sides. Its exterior is constructed with red sandstone and brick, accented by bands of colorful mosaic and blue-green glazed terra-cotta. Inside, the bank's square layout complements the exterior, with semicircular murals positioned opposite the arched windows. This design is considered a significant example of Sullivan's later work, often created in collaboration with his associate George Grant Elmslie.2