06/12/2026
Fort Dodge History
As we honor 250 years of our nation’s history,
let’s rediscover our local roots of that legacy.
Please join us in exploring how
Fort Dodge helped shape the frontier
and fueled the development
of the country we call home.
1st National Bank/Beh Building
Location: 629 Central Ave.
Construction Timeline: 1907 – 1908
Architect: Liebbe, Nourse and Rasmussen (Des Moines, IA)
Original Owner: First National Bank
Size: Six stories
Purpose of Building: Bank and office suite
Built in 1908, this was one of Fort Dodge’s most prestigious buildings.
Built in 1907-1908, the First National Bank Building is a prominent landmark in Fort Dodge. The history of the First National Bank runs almost parallel with the development of Fort Dodge since 1866. The officers and directors of the First National Bank were among the city's most prominent businessmen, active in city commerce and politics as well as the regionally important gypsum extraction and milling industry.
The bank itself was the most prominent financial institution in Fort Dodge. Costing over $200,000 and rising six stories tall, this building was at its completion the city's most celebrated office structure. For almost 60 years, the building housed one of Fort Dodge's most prominent banks--either the First National Bank or the State Bank--on its first floor. And during this time its upper-level offices were occupied by many of the city's most prestigious commercial and professional tenants. Erected by the city's principal financial institution at the height of its affluence, the First National Bank Building played a pivotal role in early Fort Dodge commerce. Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/iconic-buildings
