Property Record
401 MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Alexander McMillan Building |
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| Other Name: | State Bank of La Crosse |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 35002 |
| Location (Address): | 401 MAIN ST |
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| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | La Crosse |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1885 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1996 |
| Historic Use: | bank/financial institution |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | LONG & KEES OF MINNEAPOLIS |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | La Crosse Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 9/2/1994 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 10/8/1993 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | Massive four-story round arches on south and west facades; plain rectangular windows with round arched grouping in the top of the round arches; battlements at ends of building and framing the recessed central entrance bay in the facade; massive round arched central entrance was removed when contemporary front of brown stone was added; rear elevations are brick. Constructed in 1885-1886 by Alexander McMillan, a local investor and realtor, on the site of a city park featuring an artesian well, the McMillan Building, originally used as a business block and now known as the State Bank Building, constructed of local stone. Unfortunately the store front has been altered, eliminating the massive oricles on the lower story. Alexander McMillan was an important La Crosse figure. He was involved in civic affairs, local politics, and in the local finanical network. He was one of La Crosse's lumber barons. McMillan had other interests, such as banking, and played a role in civic affairs. He became mayor in 1871. He was active in the Board of Trade. The State Bank of La Crosse was one of the three main financial institutions of the city. |
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| Bibliographic References: | La Crosse (Wisconsin) Chronicle 21 August 1885. La Crosse (Wisconsin) Chronicle 1 January 1886. Pratt and Owen, La Crosse Illustrated (La Crosse Art Publishing Co., 1887, Reprint, 1978) pp. 19, 27. City of La Crosse Tax Records. ARC Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. 1857-1913. LACROSSE TRIBUNE 3/28/1995. LACROSSE TRIBUNE 8/2/1995. LACROSSE TRIBUNE 8/4/1995. Crocker, Leslie. La Crosse Buildings through Time. La Crosse: La Crosse Public Library Archives Department, 2015. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |