Walker Center

Walker Center (formerly Walker Bank Building) is a skyscraper in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.

Walker Bank Building
Night view of the Walker Center, May 2009
Location175 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah
United States
Coordinates40°45′55″N 111°53′24″W
Built1911
ArchitectEames and Young; Stewart, James & Co.
Architectural styleSkyscraper
NRHP reference No.06000929[1]
Added to NRHPOctober 04, 2006

Description

The building was opened on December 9, 1912, taking a little over a year to be built. At the time of its completion, it stood as the tallest building between Chicago and San Francisco (16 stories, 67 m). It was originally constructed as the headquarters for Walker Bank, founded by the Walker brothers: Samuel, Joseph, David, and Matthew. The basement originally contained the vault for the bank, as well as a barbershop, florist, cigar store, and other shops. The main floor contained the bank, and upper floors were used as office space.[2] It was designed by the St. Louis, Missouri-based architecture firm Eames and Young.[3] It remained the headquarters of Walker Bank until it merged with First Interstate Bancorp in 1981 (it is now part of Wells Fargo).

Weather Tower

The Walker Center is topped by a 64-foot weather tower, which gives a weather forecast based on the color of the lights. The weather tower was taken down in the 1980s due to a city ordinance but replaced in 2008. The meaning of the tower colors are:

  • Blue: clear skies
  • Flashing blue: cloudy skies
  • Red: rain
  • Flashing red: snow[4]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Merchants and miners in Utah : the Walker brothers and their bank / Jonathan Bliss.[Salt Lake City, Utah] : Western Epics, c1983.
  3. http://luna.wustl.edu:8180/luna/servlet/detail/EY~16~7~117847~110837:Walker-Bank-Building-for-the-M--H--
  4. "Historic weather tower lights up skyline". KSL. March 21, 2009.


Preceded by
Joseph Smith Memorial Building		 Tallest Building in Salt Lake City
1912–1916
67m		 Succeeded by
Utah State Capitol


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