Sylvan Building

National Register Listing

Street Address:

1500 Main St., Columbia, SC (Richland County)

Alternate Name:

Central National Bank

---

NRHP Nomination

Record Number:

S10817740024

Description and Narrative:

(Central National Bank) Built in Second Empire design, the Sylvan Building features a mansard roof covered with slate. The Sylvan Building is architecturally significant as one of the few undamaged examples of this type and period architecture in Columbia. Because of its rarity of type within the area, it is of extreme importance in local architectural history, perhaps the most important building on Main Street. The building is attributed to nationally renowned architect, Samuel Sloan. The building has brick bearing walls, brick relieving arches, and wood floors supported by wood joists. It is three floors with a full basement. Other features include corner quoins on pavilions, a central pavilion with a hooded dormer of double windows, a variety of segmented dormers, pedimented dormers, and windows with arched dripstone with keystone or rectangular dripstone with keystone. Built as the Central National Bank, it survived the panic of 1871 and was absorbed by the Loan and Exchange Bank organized in 1886 under state charter. It has been used since 1906 as a jewelry store. Listed in the National Register March 23, 1972.

Period of Significance:

1870

Level of Significance:

Local

Area of Significance:

Architecture

National Register Determination:

listed

Date of Certification:

March 23 1972

---