An Historic Timeline 1814: James Wright Jr. and James Mifflin builds the 3-story federal townhouse which eventually becomes the First National Bank of Columbia. 1822: Christian Halderman purchases the property for his residence. Joseph Cottrell and Manus Holbrook opens a tavern and hotel known as The Mansion House. 1841: Christian Haldman dies in the home and it is purchased by William Atkins for his residence. 1852: Gerhardt Brandt purchases the property and it, once again, becomes a hotel (National House Hotel). That same year, Brandt rents the corner of the property to Solomon and Daniel Detwiler for use as Detwiler Bros Bank. 1860: Solomon Detwiler buys the entire property and moves his residence into the remaining portion. 1864: As part of the National Bank Law, the Detwilers charter their bank with $100,000 capital. The First National Bank of Columbia becomes the 371st bank to be chartered in the USA. 1897: Solomon Detwiler dies and leaves the property to his wife, Mary Catherine. Solomon's son, Horace, assums management. 1915: Mary Catherine Detwiler dies and leaves the property to their children, Horace and Effie. The two children live together in the home. 1917: The First National Bank of Columbia merges with the Columbia National Bannk to become First Columbia National Bank. The new bank moves up the street to 229 Locust. 1925: Effie Detwiler starts the Columbia Free Public Library and provides the corner portion of the property complete with furnishings, heating and lighting. 1938: Horace Detwiler dies and leaves his share of the property to his sister, Effie. 1954: Effie dies and leaves the property to the Columbia Free Public Library. 1958: Lloyd and Jean Motter purchase the property from the Columbia Free Public Library. 1961: The library moves to a new facility on Sixth Street. 1967: The restored bank opens as the First National Bank Museum. 1997: Following the deaths of Lloyd and Jean Motter, their daughter, Nora, and her husband, Michael, purchase the property and take over the management of the museum and continue the restoration. A Concise Visual History Watch the four minute Quicktime movie for an introduction to the museum. Simply click on the image above to view. You must have the Apple Quicktime 7 Player installed on your computer to view it. If you don't have this version installed, downloat it free, here. Narration: Finn MacGinty