First Bank Updates

Thank You To Our Lead Donors

H.F.”Gerry” and Marguerite Lenfest

Denise Foderaro and Frank Quattrone

Jeremy J. Siegel and Ellen Schwartz Siegel

For a listing of all of our donors to the First Bank Restoration Project, click below.

December 10, 2021 | Historic First at First Bank

On Monday, December 13, 2021, the Independence Historical Trust will hold a press conference to announce a gift of Cryptocurrency to the First Bank Restoration project.

April 1, 2021 | Over $300,000 raised towards the Challenge Grant

In November of 2019, we received a challenge grant of $1 million from Frank and Denise Quattrone. We are happy to report, after taking time off from fundraising in 2020, we have raised over $300,000 towards that grant.  We still have a ways to go before we match it fully, so we need your support.  To donate to the First Bank project and have your donation matched, click below.

February 4, 2021 | Program with Carpenters’ Hall

On February 4, 2021, Carpenters’ Hall – one of the Trust’s historic neighbors and partners – hosted a program on the First Bank, “Nurseries of National Wealth: Carpenters’ Hall and the First Bank.” The Trust and Independence National Historical Park were happy to be partners in this presentation. In addition to the history of the First Bank and its temporary home at Carpenter’s Hall, we also discussed the current restoration project. 

To learn more about the proposed work at the First Bank, we encourage you to watch the presentation.  We would also like to take this moment and thank our all of our donors, but in particular, our lead donors. It is through their generosity that we have been able to hire the contractors to work on the design plans for the First Bank. To see a listing of our donors, please see below.

March 31, 2020 | Interpretive and Exhibit Planner Hired

On March 31, 2020, Independence Historical Trust hired Local Projects from Brooklyn to work with the National Park Service on the stories to be told at the First Bank. Their task is to find a way to discuss our nation’s early economy in a new and exciting way.  Here is a list of other projects they have worked on that may be familiar:

• A Museum of Collective Memory – NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
• The Legacy Museum – EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
• Exploring NYC’s Past, Present, and Future – THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
• and more

For more information on their work, please visit their website

January 1, 2020 | Architect Hired

On January 1, 2020, John Milner Architects, Inc. was hired to re-imagine the space of the First Bank. Even though the original foot print would not change, the project needed architects to re-configure the interior space and think of all the possibilities to bring the building to code.  John Milner architects are from Chadds Ford, PA and have done extensive work in the area. here is a short list of some of the projects they have worked on in the area:

• • Stoneleigh
  • Gettysburg-Lincoln Railroad Station
  • Deshler Morris-Bringhurst House
  • Mount Pleasant
  • and more

For more information on their work, please visit their website

November 19, 2019 | $1 Million Challenge Grant by Denise Foderaro and Frank Quattrone

We are pleased to announce that Frank and Denise Quattrone have pledged a $1 million Challenge Grant to the First Bank of the United States Restoration project.  This grant must be matched dollar-for-dollar by funds raised by the Trust.

To support the First Bank and to match the Quattrone’s Challenge Grant,

click the button below.

June 6, 2018 | $1 Million Challenge Grant matched by Jeremy J. Siegel and Ellen Schwartz Siegel

Professor Jeremy J. Siegel and his wife, Ellen Schwartz Siegel have met the $1 million dollar challenge that H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest issued to restore the First Bank of the United States.

To learn more about their donation, click below.

October 21, 2016 | H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest issues a $1 Million Challenge Grant for the First Bank

The first donor to the restoration of the First Bank of the United States is H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest. He is well known in the Philadelphia area for being a generous philanthropist who supports many worth-while projects. In his letter to the organization he wrote, ” This (First Bank) is an exciting and needed project…”  We thank Mr. Lenfest for his support and look forward to finding other donors to match his challenge grant.