Omaha Exploration

The Bank of Florence is the oldest building in Omaha. Built in 1855 when the territory was established. It was founded by the Davenport, IA based firm Cooke and Sargent. They gambled that the new town of Florence would become the territorial capital and the eastern terminus of the railroad. There was even talk of a bride being built across the Missouri River from Florence due to it having a rock bottom. As such, the town and its bank were all but guaranteed to be successful.

To that end, the land for the Bank of Florence was acquired and a vault was ordered. Construction started in 1855 when the vault arrived from Pennsylvania. When it was finished, the two-story brick structure was the strongest structure in the entire territory. Construction was completed by the end of the year and the bank opened its doors in 1856. 

On the second floor of the bank was the office and lying quarters of its manager, James Monroe Parker. Banking practices in the west were lax to say the least so the Bank of Florence like other banks in Nebraska at the time printed its own money known as “wildcat currency” in denominations of $1, $2, $3 and $5. The bank’s funds were secured by loans which worked for a while until the Panic of 1857 hit and customers withdrew their money which drained all of the money that was in the vaults. The bank continued for a while before finally closing in 1859 after its owners returned to Iowa. 

The bank located at the current day address of 8502 N 30th Street sat vacant for the next 30 years. In 1890 it reopened as a bank which lasted through the start of the Great Depression before closing again in 1936. It ceased operating as a bank ever since. Around 1904 the former office on the second floor was converted into the Florence Telephone Company where switchboard operators would connect calls within Florence. 

James continued to own the building and used it to store the old bank supplies, furniture from the day he lived there until it was sold in 1909 after he passed away. It ceased operating as a bank after 1936 but continued to serve the community as a bar, pool hall, office space, grocery store, antique shop, laundry, dry cleaner and an apartment building 

The Parker family continued to own the building until 1966 when it was donated. The Florence Historical Foundation took ownership.The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and after considerable volunteer work and fundraising to restore the building, opened it as a museum in 1976. It was designated an Omaha Landmark in 1980 and a historical marker was installed next to it. 

Today the building operates as a museum and is open for tours where visitors can view the main bank floor, original bank vault, teller cages as well as the upstairs office and switchboard. Its hours can be found online.

I’d love to hear what you have to say so please feel free to comment. Until next time, keep exploring!

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