Nation's Oldest Bank
[Upper Marker:]
22/26 Market Square
Built 1803
The Oldest Bank Building
New Hampshire Bank 1803-1842
Portsmouth Savings Bank 1823-C.1950
Piscataqua Bank 1842-1863
Piscataqua Exchange Bank 1844-1863
First National Bank of Portsmouth 1863-C.1950
Portsmouth Trust Company C.1950-1977
Restored by James A. Shanley 1977 - 1078
Listed in the
National Register of Historic Places
September 10, 1979
[Lower Marker:]
In 1782 the New Hampshire Bank opened its doors on this site. After the great fire of 1802 the present structure was built by the bank in 1803 in the Federal Style. Circa 1869 it was divided into two separate banks. In 1882 the front facade was expanded forward and modernized into an Italianate Renaissance Revival design. In 1903 the 22 Market Square exterior was renovated once again into its present Greek Revival Limestone facade with ionic order columns. Above the black and green marble lobby was installed an impressive leaded and stained glass dome depicting the Great Seal of New Hampshire. In 1904 the exterior of 26 Market was also renovated to create an asymetrical Beaux Arts Style facade of pink Conway Granite. The Renaissance Revival entry steps of 26 Market Square were left in place. Both buildings have remained largely unchanged since 1904.
Notably, the second floor office over 26 Market was once the law office of future President Franklin Pierce.
Marker is on Pleasant Street, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
