{"id":181,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:06","latitude":47.50623180000000189693309948779642581939697265625,"longitude":-111.2988116000000218264176510274410247802734375,"title":"Great Falls Building and Loan Association (Demolished)","subtitle":"Great Falls Central Business Historic District","fullsize":"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/3a98b84e1035dd892fa4adeb26003382.jpg","address":"13 5th Street North, Great Falls, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":17,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"Prominent early business leaders founded the Great Falls Building and Loan in 1916 for a dual purpose: to provide loans to aspiring homeowners and to pay regular dividends to shareholders. Unlike banks, building and loans were non-profit corporations partially motivated by the desire to improve Americans’ lives and morals by encouraging thrift and placing homeownership within reach. Fortuitously, accessible mortgages also helped build the community—a central goal of Great Falls’ Progressive-era businessmen. By 1940, the thriving building and loan was ready to construct its own building. Intended “to last a lifetime,” the building featured high quality materials and a cutting-edge Moderne style design that displayed a forward-looking image. Moderne characteristics include its spare, geometric detailing, flat roof, and bold asymmetry. In 1958, the renamed Great Falls Federal Savings and Loan Association expanded into a new building down the street. However, its Moderne monument still promises to provide Great Falls with office space for the intended lifetime—and beyond.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Private","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/1aad086e-a12e-4ed6-87a2-fb2b0e59c8f8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read about the Great Fall Central Business Historic District</a>","<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/5076ac91-787f-43e8-b172-2700323e584c/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos of the Great Falls Central Business Historic District</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/3a98b84e1035dd892fa4adeb26003382.jpg":{"id":2944,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Great Falls Building and Loan Association (Demolished)","description":"Great Falls Building and Loan Association (PAc 91-51 Great Falls R34 F34). Front view of the building, facing east to southeast on 5th Street North. B&amp;W. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office from the Photograph Archives at the Montana Historical Society | 1983 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/3a98b84e1035dd892fa4adeb26003382.jpg"}}}