Landmark Open House: Terre Haute First National Bank

Indiana Landmarks invites the public to an open house at Terre Haute’s First National Bank before the next phase of restoration begins at the grand Neoclassical landmark. Get an inside look and lend your ideas as we seek community input to identify the building’s best new use.

Indiana Landmarks took on the project in June 2018 when First Financial Corporation donated the building, plus $110,000 to jumpstart the renovation. Designed by Chicago architect Solon Beman in 1903, a late 1920s makeover by prominent Terre Haute firm Miller & Yeager and Taylor Palmer Company of Milwaukee added a stunning coffered barrel-vaulted ceiling and incorporated seven murals by Vicente Aderente, a New York artist whose work adorns landmarks nationwide.

Since taking title to the property, Indiana Landmarks has invested over $700,000 in substantial exterior rehabilitation and interior cleanout, including roof replacement, masonry repair, and window and front entry restoration. In early 2024, Indiana Landmarks received a $300,000 challenge grant from Wisconsin-based Jeffris Family Foundation to repair and restore the main hall’s ornamental murals and plaster. As part of the grant agreement, Indiana Landmarks must raise an additional $600,000 in matching funds for the project by June 30, 2026.

“We understand the building’s significance to the community and its critical role in supporting a vibrant downtown.” says Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks. “We look forward to working with local partners to identify the highest and best use for this important landmark.”

On October 10, the site will be open from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with remarks at 5:45 p.m. Free with RSVP. Parking is available on surrounding streets.

Please note: The site is mid-restoration without heat or restrooms and may not be suitable for guests sensitive to dust or with mobility challenges. Questions? Contact Indiana Landmarks at [email protected].

Host or Publisher Indiana Landmarks