If you’ve ever driven through downtown St. Paul at night, you’ve seen it. That massive, 50-foot tall neon "1st" sign glowing red against the Minnesota sky. It’s iconic. It’s also a bit of a ghost from a different era of American finance. Most people call it the First National Bank St Paul building, even though the actual bank that built it hasn’t technically existed under that specific name for decades.
It’s weird how we hold onto names.
Banking today feels like an endless series of sterile apps and generic glass offices. But back in 1931, when this skyscraper was finished, banks wanted to look like fortresses. They wanted to scream "your money is safe here," which was a pretty big deal considering the Great Depression was currently kicking everyone’s teeth in. The First National Bank St Paul was meant to be a symbol of pure, unadulterated stability.
The Sky-High Ambition of 1931
The building itself is an Art Deco masterpiece. Period. Architect Graham, Anderson, Probst & White—the same geniuses behind the Wrigley Building in Chicago—didn't hold back. They used Indiana limestone. They used black granite. They basically built a 32-story middle finger to the economic downturn of the thirties.
At 417 feet, it was the tallest building in St. Paul for a really long time. Honestly, it still dominates the skyline's character. While the Wells Fargo Center and other modern towers are taller, they don’t have that same "old money" gravity.
Inside, it’s even crazier. The main banking hall is three stories high. It has these massive marble columns that make you feel like a tiny ant. That was the point. When you walked into First National Bank St Paul, you weren't just going to deposit a paycheck; you were entering a temple of commerce.
That Famous Neon "1st" Sign
Let's talk about the sign. You can't talk about this place without the sign.
🔗 Read more: US Stock Futures Now: Why the Market is Ignoring the Noise
It was installed in 1958. It’s actually three-sided, and it’s a beast. Each side is about 50 feet high. It’s sitting on top of the 32nd floor, and for a long time, it served as a literal beacon for pilots. Nowadays, it’s mostly just a nostalgic landmark for locals.
Fun fact: it’s not just one "1." It’s a complex structural feat. In the early 2010s, they had to do a massive restoration because, well, Minnesota winters are brutal. Red neon doesn't love sub-zero temperatures and 40 mph winds for seventy years straight. They switched to LED at one point to save energy, but people were weirdly passionate about keeping that specific red glow. It’s part of the city’s soul.
What Happened to the Actual Bank?
This is where things get a bit "corporate alphabet soup."
First National Bank St Paul didn't just disappear; it evolved. It was part of First Bank Stock Corporation. If you follow the breadcrumbs of banking history, you’ll find that First Bank eventually became U.S. Bancorp (the parent of U.S. Bank).
So, when you see that "1st" sign, you’re looking at the ancestor of one of the biggest banks in the country. It’s a direct lineage. But because of mergers, acquisitions, and the general way the American banking system eats its own, the "First National Bank St Paul" brand eventually dissolved into the U.S. Bank identity.
The building, however, went through its own mid-life crisis.
💡 You might also like: TCPA Shadow Creek Ranch: What Homeowners and Marketers Keep Missing
From Vaults to Apartments: The Great Pivot
Banks don’t need 32 stories of office space anymore. Not in the age of remote work and digital transfers. For a while, the building was struggling. High vacancy rates are the death of historic skyscrapers.
But then something cool happened. Madison Equities bought it, and more recently, there’s been a huge push to convert large sections of these old office towers into residential units. It’s a trend across the Twin Cities.
The "First National" building now houses luxury apartments. Think about that. You can literally sleep in the same building where the city's titans of industry were hoarding gold during the Jazz Age. The "First Living" residences have kept a lot of the historic charm—the brass, the stone, the heavy doors—but added things like a fitness center and modern kitchens.
It’s a weird mix of 1930s opulence and 2020s convenience.
The Logistics of Living in a Landmark
If you're looking at this from a business or real estate perspective, the First National Bank St Paul building is a case study in "adaptive reuse."
- Heating and Cooling: Trying to pump modern AC through 1931 walls is a nightmare. The retrofitting costs for these buildings are astronomical.
- The Windows: You can't just pop out historic windows and put in cheap vinyl ones. The preservation societies would lose their minds.
- The Vaults: Some of the old basement vaults are still there. They’re basically indestructible. It’s easier to build around them than to remove them.
Despite these hurdles, the building remains a premier address. It’s connected to the St. Paul Skyway system, which is basically a requirement for survival if you live in Minnesota and don't want your nose to freeze off in February.
📖 Related: Starting Pay for Target: What Most People Get Wrong
Why It Still Matters for St. Paul's Economy
Downtown St. Paul is often seen as the quieter, more historic sibling to Minneapolis. The First National Bank St Paul building is the anchor of that identity. While Minneapolis is all glass and mirrors, St. Paul is stone and history.
Keeping this building occupied is vital. When a landmark like this goes dark, the whole street feels dead. By converting it to a mix of office, retail, and residential, the city has ensured that the "1st" sign will keep glowing for another century.
It’s also a major draw for architecture nerds. People actually travel here just to see the lobby and take photos of the Art Deco details. It’s a reminder that we used to build things to last forever, not just until the next quarterly earnings report.
Actionable Tips for Visiting or Moving In
If you’re actually interested in the building—whether as a tourist or a potential renter—don't just stare at it from the street.
- Check the Skyway Access: If you’re visiting, enter through the Skyway level. You get a much better sense of the scale of the building when you’re walking through the connecting corridors.
- Look for the Brass: Pay attention to the elevator doors and the mail chutes. Those are original. They don’t make hardware like that anymore; it’s solid brass and incredibly heavy.
- The Night View: The best place to see the sign isn’t from the sidewalk directly underneath it. Head across the river to Raspberry Island or the High Bridge. That’s where you get the "postcard" view of the glowing red "1st."
- Leasing Realities: If you’re looking to live there, ask about the soundproofing. These old buildings have thick floors, which usually means they’re quieter than new-construction "stick-built" apartments.
- Parking: It’s downtown St. Paul. Parking is always the "catch." Make sure you look into the contract parking options in the nearby ramps before committing to a lease.
The First National Bank St Paul isn't just a bank anymore. It hasn't been for a long time. It’s a vertical neighborhood, a piece of art, and a giant red nightlight for the entire city. It’s proof that even when the money moves on, the architecture remains.