Second Bank of the United States Building

At first housed in the relatively diminutive Carpenter’s Hall, the Second Bank of the US commissioned the construction of a new, larger headquarters on Chestnut Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets, just northwest of the first Bank of the US building, in 1819. Designed by architect William Strickland, who modeled it after the Parthenon, the building was completed in 1824 and cost almost $500,000. Eight fluted Doric columns grace the outside of the structure, complimenting the 12 fluted Ionic columns uplifting the bank’s spacious interior of almost 12,000 sq. ft. Much like tall office buildings today, the headquarters of both national banks were deliberately designed to evoke the awe and admiration of customers and passersby, monuments in stone to the presumed underlying financial strength of the institutions. Today the Second Bank’s headquarters house a National Park Service portrait museum.

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Objects and Images Related to Andrew Jackson

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Jackson Statue, New Orleans Statue of Andrew Jackson, the triumphant warrior, in Jackson Square, New Orleans.

Coffin Handbill Mudslinging 19th century style: The coffin handbills circulated by the J. Q. Adams camp during the 1828 presidential election campaign.

The Hermitage Elevation and plan of Jackson’s plantation mansion outside of Nashville during the final year of his presidency.

Samuel D. Ingham Samuel D. Ingham, Secretary of the Treasury (March 1829 to June 1831)

Louis McLane Louis McLane, Secretary of the Treasury (August 1831 to May 1833)

William J. Duane William J. Duane, Secretary of the Treasury (May to September 1833)

Roger B. Taney Roger B. Taney, Secretary of the Treasury (September 1833 to June 1834)

Levi Woodbury Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury (July 1834 to March 1841)

Specie Circular The pitiful plight of an unemployed tradesman, his family and his creditors due to the policies of Jackson and Van Buren.

Second Bank of the US Shares Owned by Baring Brothers Certificate for shares in the Second Bank of the US owned by Baring Brothers of London, April 1830.

Unissued Second Bank of the US notes Unissued Second Bank of the US notes, Philadelphia.

<em>Boston Weekly Messenger</em> Editorial Second Bank of the United States editorial published in the Boston Weekly Messenger, April 18, 1816.

Speech on the Bank of the United States Speech on the Bank of the United States veto and its aftermath.

Report of a Committee of Directors Report of a Committee of Directors of the Second Bank of the United States, 1833 (first edition).

Political Cartoon Political cartoon: A potential Third Bank of the United States provides Jackson and Van Buren an awful affright.

Jackson Vetoes Re-Charter of the Second Bank of the US Jackson vetoes the re-charter of the Second Bank of the US, 1832.

Nicholas Biddle Nicholas Biddle, Philadelphia gentleman and banker.

First Bank of the United States Building Bank of the United States building on Third Street in Philadelphia.

Second Bank of the United States Building Postcard of the Second Bank of the United States building.