Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Nashville Branch

At the turn of the twentieth century, Nashville was a booming city with a population of approximately 80,000 people. The financial industry—banking, insurance, and securities—was one of the major reasons for this boom as Nashville business shifted away from agriculture and shipping to more service-oriented business. Union Street between Third and Fourth Avenues was the hub of Nashville’s financial district, which gained a reputation as the “Wall Street of the South.”

The Nashville Bank and Trust Company at 315 Union Street, the American Trust Building at 301 Union Street, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta were the center of this financial district, and all three buildings still stand today—although none are currently banks. The Federal Reserve Bank was built in 1922 by local architects Thomas Marr and Joseph Holman along with A. Ten Eyck Brown from Georgia. Both firms were known for their public buildings, and each built several well-known structures in Tennessee and Georgia respectively. The bank was built in the Classical Revival style, as the grand scale of the Greek and Roman architecture and allusion to great ancient civilizations created a sense of security—very important for a bank! The arrival of the Federal Reserve was a harbinger of Nashville’s financial success. The Federal Reserve was created in 1913 in an effort to bring stability and accountability to banking across the country after a series of financial panics in the late 1890s and early 1900s. The Federal Reserve remains the nation’s central banking system.

Before heading up to the Davidson County Courthouse to continue the tour, you can head down Third Ave. North and visit Gray and Dudley in the 21c Hotel, Black Rabbit, or Printers Alley for a quick bite and some more local history. The Alley that runs between Black Rabbit and 21c is called Banker’s Alley. It extends west to Fourth Ave. North and connects to Printers Alley. Check out the Food for Thought and Seedy Side Tours for more information on these sites. 

To reach the next stop, head up Third Avenue and cross Union Street to reach the Public Square and Davidson County Courthouse on your right.