Status: Preserved
Address: 10 North Main Street, Memphis
Built: Completed in 1895
Architectural Style: Eclectic, with elements of both Northern Italian Renaissance and Richardsonian Romanesque
Original Function/Purpose: Bank
History: The ten-story Continental National Bank was the city’s first skyscraper and (at the time) the tallest building in the world to have a circulating hot water heating system. When it was built, citizens eagerly paid 10 cents to ride the elevator for a roof-top view of the city. In 1900, the family of Dr. David Tinsley Porter used the money left to them after his death to purchase the Continental National Bank Building, renaming it the Dr. D.T. Porter Building as a memorial to his service to the city. Dr. Porter (1828-1898) prospered in the wholesale grocery business and held executive positions in banks, insurance companies, cotton, and public utilities. He served as president of the taxing district of Memphis from 1879-1891, and was one of the first leaders to focus on cleaning up the city. Renovated in 1983, the building has been converted into condominiums.
ADDITONAL DOCUMENTATION (approved Feb. 1, 2023): This additional documentation clarifies the Dr. D.T. Porter Building’s property boundaries provided in the original nomination.
City Council District: 6
Super District: 8
County Commission District: 8