"Girard's Bank, late the Bank of the United States, in Third Street," Philadelphia, PA, by William Birch, 1799.

Credit: Free Library of Philadelphia

Created by Congress in 1791, the Bank of the United States opened in this impressive new building in 1795. After Congress let the Bank's charter lapse in 1811, Philadelphia merchant Stephen Girard purchased the building for his own private bank. Today the First Bank still stands as part of Independence Hall National Historical Park.