The American National Bank Building was built on the former property of the Belle Haven Hotel known earlier as the Desoto Hotel in 1886.
The historic American National Bank Building later known as the Orange Blossom Hotel is located Nat 1330 Main Street Downtown Sarasota. The building is a significant historical and architectural landmark in the city. Neoclassical in style, it one of the three earliest skyscrapers in Sarasota.
It is the only existing ones to retain its historic detail and appearance. Associated with economic and and tourism history of Sarasota , the the bank and office were completed in 1926. The financial decline of the Florida economic boom resulted of American National Bank in 1928. Although briefly occupied by another banking organization, the building was converted to the Orange Blossom Hotel in 1934.
The Orange Blossom Hotel was host to thousands of visitors in Sarasota until 1965 after which it was converted to a retirement residence. As one of Sarasota’s few examples of the Classical or Neoclassical Revival style and most monumental example,the building reflects the national and statewide trends in commercial and public architecture.
The building was the work Francis P. Smith of Atlanta.
In May,1925 the Belle Haven Hotel was put up for sale and sold for $533,000. After purchasing the the Belle Haven Hotel, George Adair, made plans to demolish the old hotel and erect a modern 17 story hotel on a portion of the.original hotel site. by March ,1926, Adair and Sentor Company, a joint partner of Adair Realty an trust had laid the foundation of the new hotel and by the beginning of April the building was 4 stories up and progression rapidly.
Sometime in late April, 1926, the Adair Realty interests entered negotiations with American National Bank in Sarasota to take over the construction project. The American National Bank had been.formed in 1925 with a capital stock.of $100,000. A $32,000 surplus wss created when the bank was over subscribed with shares selling at $120. The bank officially opened in.Thacker Block on June 6, 1925, although the bank began accepting deposits a week earlier.
Within one year of opening, the officers of American National, faced with inadequate office space, formed a building company for the purpose of erecting a building for their operations, but were a belt on solve their space needs without the necessity when they we’re given the opportunity to.purchase the yet incomplete Hotel.Adair project and were to direct the finished construction project for banking and office use.
Construction continuing under the auspices of the American National Bank was completed in December, 1926 at a cost.of $650,000. When completed the Bank Building was 10 stories. The original primary shaft of the skyscraper was faced with red brick. The exterior structure was finished cast concrete details. Currently, the original exterior brick surface was water proofed with silicone and fully covered with stucco.
