Tag Archives: architecture

Sitting in the heart of downtown is the Cleveland Trust Bank Building. Built in 1908, it was designed by George B Post and features a glorious stained glass topped rotunda. The rotunda is 85 feet high and 60 feet in diameter and is decorated inside with murals by Francis Davis Millet, the world famous artist who lost his life on the Titanic.

It was my first bank branch as a teenager and I was always in awe of how beautiful the building was. Then the bank (Ameritrust at the time) was bought by another bank, which became yet another bank etc etc and the branch closed.

Too bad it is still closed to the public. Cuyahoga County bought it years ago, and in what can only be described as an act of governmental genius, lets it sit vacant most of the time. They do offer the occasional tour (and I do mean occasional – one day every few years it seems) but mostly this architectural and cultural gem sits empty. You would think with all of the effort to “sale” Cleveland as a destination they could find SOMETHING to do with the building.

I would love to shoot the interior one day. Hell I would even pay for the chance to shoot the interior (see pay – as in make opportunity to make money for the County). Until then though, taking pictures of the exterior will have to do.