First National Bank Building

Although now an apartment building, the former First National Bank remains a key commercial and architectural landmark in Fort Dodge. It was built in 1908 and represents the important role the bank played in the economic development of the city. It is also significant as an intact example of Commercial style architecture in Iowa designed by Liebbe, Nourse and Rasmussen, which was one of the state's leading firms at the time. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

First National Bank was founded in 1866, twelve years after Fort Dodge was established (the U.S. Army established Fort Dodge here in 1850. When the Army abandoned the fort in 1853 it sold the property to the Fort Dodge Land Company, which platted the town). The bank opened with $50,000 in capital and the owners were already well established in Fort Dodge. Most of them were directly tied in some way to the gypsum industry, which had become a major economic driver in the region by the 1870s (gypsum is pulverized stone used to make plaster and stucco).

First National first operated out of a one-story brick building until 1874 when it moved to a larger building. It moved again in 1892 and remained in that location until the present building was erected in 1908. In constructing it, the bank directors wanted a building that would become a landmark and symbolize the status the bank had achieved by then. For many years, the building was the city's most prestigious office building. It housed the offices of many doctors, lawyers, accountants, realtors, real estate brokers, and architects. First National Bank housed its offices on the first floor.

Like many banks around the country at the start of the Great Depression, First National failed. It was reorganized as the First State Bank but it closed in 1934. The next bank that emerged was called State Bank and it opened in the First National Bank Building. The building also still continued to house the offices of many leading local professionals. In 1966, State Bank moved to the suburbs. A real estate investor from Des Moines named Carleton Beh bought the building and named after himself. By then, however, it lost its reputation as the city's premier office building. There were few tenants in the 1970s and the building was mostly vacant by 1980 and abandoned altogether in the 1980s. It suffered from significant water damage as well in the coming years. Finally in the early 2000s, the building was rehabilitated and converted into apartments.

Fraser, Clayton B. "First National Bank Building." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. February 27, 2003. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/9406aeb8-b8bf-4ecf-bfa2-ea927ce00b9d.