First Bank of the United States

Announcing the future of the nation's oldest purpose-built federal building.

The Future of Our First Bank

For the last 50 years, the historic First Bank of the United States has been closed to the public, including the 5 million people who visit Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia every year. Now, plans for its transformation have finally been unveiled.

On July 10, Local Projects was excited to be a part of history as representatives of the National Park Service, Independence Historical Trust, John Milner Architects joined VIP speakers and guests to unveil future plans for First Bank, and a $22 million grant from the federal government to aid in its renovation.

Independence Historical Trust Leads the Restoration Effort

The First Bank of the United States in Philadelphia stands as the enduring architectural testament to the financial foundation of the United States. Built to house the vision of Alexander Hamilton, it survives as the nation’s oldest purpose-built federal building. The restoring and re-opening of the First Bank is a top priority of Independence NHP for the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.

The National Park Service acquired the First Bank building in 1955 as part of the establishment of Independence National Historical Park. But except for serving as a visitor center in the 1960s and 1970s, it has largely been closed to the public.

Enter Independence Historical Trust, the organization partnering with Independence National Historical Park to raise funds to restore the First Bank of the United States, and make it into a museum dedicated to telling the story of our early economy.

The exhibits, designed by Local Projects, will describe Hamilton’s vision of a national economy by exploring key aspects of the nation’s commerce, workforce, natural resources, and financial systems.

Told from multiple perspectives, our exhibits will look at the components that encompassed our nation’s economy and the role the First Bank played in the individual’s life as well as making our country a world leader.

We’ll engage visitors with state-of-the-art interactives and immersive environments that tell first-person narratives and illustrate the impact of the First Bank in transforming America’s economy.

We look forward to sharing more of the story we plan to tell about our nation’s early economy! You can stay looped into the latest updates on the project by visiting the Independence Historic Trust website.