Farmers and Mechanics National Bank, Fort Worth

Completed in 1921, the Farmers and Mechanics National Bank Building was designed by the architectural firm Sanguinet and Staats during a period of economic expansion linked to Fort Worth’s oil and cattle industries. It remained the tallest structure in the city until 1957 and was later known under various names, including Fort Worth National Bank and 714 Main. Vacant for a decade, the building was acquired in 2007 by XTO Energy, which restored many of its original design elements.

The structure is a steel-framed, Commercial-style high-rise, characteristic of early 20th-century skyscraper design. Following a tripartite composition, it features a base, shaft, and capital, with ornamentation drawn from Neoclassical motifs such as pilasters, rosettes, and egg-and-dart detailing. Terra cotta cladding and Ohio granite trim define the street-facing facades, which include segmental arches and sculpted keystones. The upper floors form an L-shaped plan that allows light into adjacent areas. Restoration efforts have returned much of the building’s original architectural character, preserving its visual and structural identity within the historic downtown fabric.