DE PERE, Wis. – The State Bank of De Pere was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on August 14, 2026. The former bank was originally constructed in 1877 as a commercial building east of the Fox River. It was re-designed in Beaux Arts style in 1904 by local architect Henry Foeller.
The State Bank of De Pere stands as the only example of the Beaux Arts style in the city of De Pere. The two-story building was first constructed in 1877 along the eastern commercial corridor on North Broadway. A new façade was placed on the primary elevation, designed by prominent local architect Henry Foeller. It features a large decorative arch, pronounced limestone veneer, granite columns, multi-pane windows, and a rusticated water table. Capped pilasters highlight decorative designs that indicate the wealth and stability of the banking institution at the turn of the century. Egg-and-dart molding, a defined keystone, dentils, and a pronounced entablature highlight the decorative designs on the exterior. On the interior, the building boasts a bracketed wood-beam ceiling, mosaic tile floors, granite wainscotting, and wood flooring. Additionally, the safety deposit boxes and vault space remain intact.
The Beaux Arts style was popularized at the turn of the 20th century following the French Revolution and the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 in Chicago, where visibility of the style flourished. The grand designs became the preferred style for public and institutional buildings; however, it was not as ubiquitous as the Neoclassical Revival features that dominated construction styles at the time. Although the State Bank of De Pere is a small representation of the style, it stands as one of two stylistic examples in Brown County today.
Additional information for State Bank of De Pere is available.
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About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
