Completed in 1917, the First National Bank is Napa’s most fully realized example of the Neo-Classical Revival style, designed to convey stability and permanence during a period of economic growth. The one-story, rectangular brick building features terra cotta and granite cladding with a flat roof concealed by a parapet. Its symmetrical facade is framed by paired Corinthian columns and pilasters, supporting a richly ornamented entablature with dentils, egg-and-dart molding, and a central inscription of the bank’s name. A decorative terra cotta surround at the main entrance incorporates floral motifs and a horn of plenty, emphasizing abundance and prosperity.
The interior originally displayed elaborate classical detailing, some of which remains despite mid-twentieth-century alterations. Despite the later installation of incompatible aluminum windows, the building continues to preserve its original proportions, materials, and decorative detailing. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, the First National Bank illustrates how small-town financial institutions adopted monumental classical forms to inspire customer confidence and align themselves with national architectural trends of the early twentieth century.
