First National Bank Building, Saint Paul, MN, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The First National Bank Building at 332 Minnesota Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a 32-storey Art Deco office tower finished in 1931. It rises 417 feet and is topped by a red, three-sided "1st" sign that is one of the most recognisable marks on the downtown skyline.

The story behind it

The tower was designed by the Chicago firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White and opened in 1931, in the early years of the Great Depression. For more than five decades it was the tallest building in Saint Paul, and it kept that title until the mid-1980s, when newer towers overtook it. Its stepped, vertical profile is typical of Art Deco skyscrapers of that era.

The best-known feature is the rooftop sign, about 50 feet tall, with a glowing red numeral on each of its three sides. It can be seen from many parts of the city. On a foggy night the red light hangs over downtown, and locals have long used it as a landmark for finding their way around.

What to look for

• Stand at the foot of the building on Minnesota Street and look straight up to see how the tower narrows as it climbs.
• The red "1st" sign at the top shows a numeral on three sides, so check which face you can see from where you stand.
• The vertical lines running up the facade are a classic Art Deco touch, built to draw your eye toward the sky.
• From a few blocks away, notice how the tower stands out among the other downtown buildings.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 10 to 15 minutes if you are admiring it from the street, longer if you are photographing it from several angles.
• Visit at dusk or after dark if you can, because the red sign is at its best against a darkening sky.
• This is a working office building, so do not count on going inside or up to the roof. Check current access if you hope to see the lobby.
• It sits in the middle of downtown Saint Paul, so you can combine it with other nearby landmarks on foot.

See it on a quest

The Ghost Hunt in Saint Paul, MN passes this tower as one stop on a longer walking route through downtown. The app tells you about each place when you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the building more closely than you would on a quick pass. It suits anyone who likes a spooky theme with their city history. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like with no guide.