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Bank of Montreal Head Office

Coordinates: 45°30′18″N 73°33′28″W / 45.5049°N 73.5579°W / 45.5049; -73.5579
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Namiba (talk | contribs) at 14:02, 4 February 2024 (removed Category:Old Montreal; added Category:Buildings and structures in Old Montreal using HotCat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the Head Office on Saint Jacques Street. For the National Historic Site on Notre Dame Street, see Bank of Montreal National Historic Site.
Bank of Montreal Head Office
Édifice de la Banque de Montréal
Bank of Montreal's main Montreal branch at Place d'Armes in Old Montreal
Map
General information
Address119, rue Saint-Jacques
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 1L6
Coordinates45°30′18″N 73°33′28″W / 45.5049°N 73.5579°W / 45.5049; -73.5579
Current tenantsBank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal Museum
Completed1847
Technical details
Floor count1
Design and construction
Architect(s)John Wells
Architecture firmMcKim, Mead & White
Main contractorAnglin-Norcross Ltd. [1]

The Bank of Montreal's Head Office (French: Édifice de la Banque de Montréal) is located on 119, rue Saint Jacques (119, Saint Jacques Street) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, across the Place d'Armes from the Notre-Dame Basilica in the Old Montreal neighbourhood. The Bank of Montreal is the oldest bank in Canada, founded in 1817. Although it still remains the bank's legal headquarters, its operational head office was moved to First Canadian Place in Toronto in 1977 due to political instability in Quebec.

The centrepiece of the complex is the Bank of Montreal Main Branch, a Pantheon-like building built by John Wells in 1847. The building was inspired by the design of the former headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh.[2]

The building is in neoclassical style. The sculpted pediment of the building was done by Sir John Steell. The bronze pediment (23 tons, 16-meter wide) was melted in Scotland.[3] Enlargements to the building were made in 1901–1905 by the New York City firm of McKim, Mead & White.[4]

Bank of Montreal Museum

The Bank of Montreal Museum features exhibits about the history of the bank, including a 19th-century teller's window, photos, coins and banknotes, cheques, and mechanical piggybanks. The displays are located in the passage between the old building and the current head office. The museum is open during regular bank hours and admission is free.[5]

  • Bank of Montreal under construction (1859)
    Bank of Montreal under construction (1859)
  • Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch ca. 1909
    Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch ca. 1909
  • Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch
    Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch
  • Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch
    Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch
  • Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch
    Bank of Montreal main Montreal branch

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bank of Montreal Main Montreal Branch.

Other bank buildings in Montreal:

Other BMO buildings:

References

  1. ^ "Anglin, James Penrose | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada".
  2. ^ Epstein, Clarence. "John Wells". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica-Dominion. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  3. ^ Proulx, Gilles (2016-10-22). "La fondation de la Banque de Montréal (1817)". Le Journal de Montréal. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  4. ^ Rue Saint-Jacques, Old Montreal Web site
  5. ^ "Bank of Montreal Museum". Montreal Tourism. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
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