1926 Republic National Bank
a.k.a. Davis Building
1309 Main St., Dallas, TXThe 1926 Republic Bank building is one of the most prominent historic buildings in downtown Dallas and contributes to a significant collection of National Register eligible properties located on Main Street. Its Classical Revival style is indicative of wealth and eminence of the banking industry in Dallas during the first quarter of the twentieth century. As a result, the Republic Bank building is significant locally under Criterion C for its architectural style, craftsmanship, and as an example of the work of C. D. Hill, a master architect. The building is also significant in the area of Economics, under National Register Criterion A, as a symbol of the growth and development of the banking industry in Dallas. For twenty-eight years, the 20-story building was the headquarters for Republic National Bank and Trust, one of the most prominent financial institutions in the city and state. As a consequence of housing such an important financial institution, the building is also associated with a number of important Dallasites, including Wirt Davis, Fred Florence, among others. These key players in Republic Bank's history were some of the most powerful and influential of the city's social, political and economic elite. The period of significance for the property is 1926 through 1954, when Republic Bank moved from the building.
Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.