You’re looking for a tall ten-story building with a classic feel-check out those creamy terra cotta details and brown brickwork stretching along Stone Avenue and Congress Street, capped by a distinctive overhanging roof and bordered by soaring palms.
Alright, here you are! Imagine standing on this very corner almost a century ago-Tucson’s streets buzzing with dreams, dust, and maybe the odd cowboy boot slipping during monsoon season. Before you rises Tucson’s oldest skyscraper, the mighty Valley National Bank Building, which first pierced the skyline in 1929. If you think today’s rents are high, try building a skyscraper back then for a cool million dollars! That’s right, when this ten-story giant opened, folks were so impressed, they might’ve needed to sit down…and fortunately, there was plenty of room in the original grand banking hall.
Long before this elegant tower dominated the corner, banking began here in 1901 when the site was snapped up from General Levi Howard Manning-yep, the general himself. In those days, the very first building was designed by Henry Trost, but as Tucson grew, it simply couldn’t contain the city’s riches (or its big dreams), so it was torn down for something grander…and then, in a twist, that second building was too small too! What can I say, Tucsonans always aim high, especially in hats and architecture.
Fast forward to 1928. Consolidated National decides Tucson needs something truly bold-a skyscraper, inspired by the flagship designs of the great 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It channels the Italian Renaissance Revival: that’s why you see those lush terra cotta trims, the cream and brick contrast, those gentle arches at the base, and even a cornice with Italianate panache. Peek near the roof and you’ll spot a black-and-red Southwest geometric motif, a nod to local native patterns. So yes, this bank made sure it had plenty of style to spare.
Inside, it was a wonderland of art and luxury. Imagine stepping in to see murals painted by Anthony Heinsbergen, one of LA’s finest muralists, who adorned the lobby with scenes of manifest destiny and floral motifs celebrating America as “New Eden.” The beams were meticulously carved and painted with golden leaves, reds, greens, and blues. There was even a special director’s office walled in rare Bataan mahogany and a lounge catering specifically to ladies, trimmed with sparkling crystal chandeliers. And the vault? It held 3,000 safety deposit boxes. That’s a lot of family jewels…or perhaps just Tucson’s best collection of secret cookie recipes.
Over time, the bank changed hands-Valley National out of Phoenix swept in during 1935, eventually merging into the big Bank One, and then Chase. The building kept hustling as a bank branch until the doors closed in December 2023, ending a chapter that spanned nearly a hundred years.
Oh, and for movie buffs-parts of the 1956 thriller A Kiss Before Dying were set right here, so keep a lookout; you never know when Hollywood will sneak through Tucson again. Would you believe, underneath all this, it’s still a fortress: fireproof steel frame, poured concrete, and meant to stand forever.
So as you gaze up now, you’re not just seeing a building; you’re witnessing Tucson’s ambition-brick by brick, mural by mural, even chandelier by chandelier. If only these walls could talk! Who knows what stories of fortunes, fiascos, and furtive glances have passed through those marble halls? Welcome to the crossroad where Tucson’s history, art, and money once mingled-sometimes with a handshake, sometimes with a secret code. Shall we mosey on to the next stop?
