Lincoln American Tower Memphis, Tennessee

Text courtesy of the National Register of Historic Places, a program of the National Parks Service. Minor transcription errors or changes in formatting may have occurred; please see the Nomination Form PDF for official text. Some information may have become outdated since the property was nominated for the Register.

The Columbian Mutual Tower, more recently known as the Lincoln American Tower, stands on the Mid-America Mall (formerly Main Street) at the northwest corner of Court Square in downtown Memphis. Built in 1924, the twenty-two story skyscraper was the tallest building in West Tennessee and remains one of the most prominent landmarks on the Memphis skyline. Its architectural significance is derived from its prominent site, elegant ornamented facades, fine materials, and distinctive massing. Commissioned to house the headquarters of the Columbian Mutual Life Assurance Society, the building was conceived by the company's president, Lloyd T. Binford, who was nationally known as the controversial chief of Memphis', censor board.

Although no longer the tallest building on ,the Memphis skyline, the Columbian Mutual Tower stands out among its higher, newer neighbors by virtue of its distinctive set-back, massing and human scale. From its strategic site, anchoring the corner of Court Square, it commands the approach from both the north and the south along the Mall. Rising high above the adjacent buildings on both its north and east sides, it firmly terminates the rows of facades lining both the Mall and Court Avenue. Its substantial mass, bold vertical emphasis, and shining white terra cotta facade effectively contrast with its lower, darker neighbors. The building thus emphasizes its role as the gateway to Court Square, the city's principal urban open space.

With its eclectic touches of Renaissance ornamentation, the building is the finest local example of the Commercial Gothic style. Its design may well have been influenced by the Woolworth Building of 1913, which it resembles. The overall massing of the Columbian Mutual Tower is divided into three parts, decreasing in floor area with increasing height in accordance with the zoning ordinances of 'the day. The lowermost fourteen stories comprise a massive base, measuring approximately 75 feet x 77 feet, which is capped by a tile covered mansard roof, punctuated by arched dormer windows and torch-shaped finials. Rising out of this base is an eight story tower, measuring approximately 35 feet square. The tower steps back slightly at the twentieth floor. At its summit the tower is terminated by a steeply pitched gothic roof, sheathed in copper, with dormer windows and torch finials. The roof is crowned by a delicate, wrought iron railed cupola which supports a high-flying flag which has long been a local landmark. From the Mall to the roof of the cupola is a height of 288 feet 9 inches.

The entire building is sheathed in cream satin white enameled terra cotta, except for the lower portions of the north and east facades, which are faced with white enameled brick. A five foot high base course of gray Indiana oolitic limestone wraps around the west and south facades.

On the west, or Mall, facade is located the main entrance. The entrance is flanked by two large, ornate, bronze gothic lanterns. The original pedimented doorway, with its cast iron columns and bronze revolving door, has been replaced by a green granite entrance facade and glass swinging doors. On either side of the main entrance the original Renaissance style doorways affording access to the ground floor commercial space have also been replaced with conventional aluminum store-front doors and windows. Above the main entrance, however, the original plate glass fenestration, framed in terra cotta, remains intact, expressing the two-story entrance lobby within. At the second story level the fenestration is interrupted by a horizontal terra cotta spandrel featuring a large clock, flanked by a bas-relief. Around the clock face, which is inscribed "Columbian Mutual Life, 1903-1923", are arranged the figures of two women and two children, clad in classical drapery. The models for these figures were three of the children of company president Lloyd T. Binford and the son of secretary George W. Clayton. On either side of these figures are two wreaths with plaques bearing the bywords "Security" and "Protection". The entire entrance is contained within a segmented arched terra cotta frame, crowned by a terra cotta balustrade at the fourth floor line, below which is an ornamental cartouche, emblazoned with the initials "CML".

The fenestration of the first floor, on the west and south facades, consists of two-story high plate glass windows, interrupted by steel spandrels. (Originally painted green to match the tile of the roofs, all exterior window frames were painted white as part of a major remodeling in 1965.) Above these windows is the first of several decorated terra cotta cornices.' This first cornice, featuring rinceau ornamentation, originally matched the cornice heights of the adjacent buildings to the north and east. Similar cornices occur at the fourth and twelfth floor lines. At the fourteenth and twentieth floor levels are more elaborate cornices, ornamented with delicate carved crests, cartouches, and swags. Resting on these cornices are large terra cotta torch finials.

Beginning at the fifth story and extending the full height of the fourteen story base is a multi-story light well, opening on the east facade. Designed to afford natural light to the inner offices at these levels, the U-shaped floor plan also made possible cross-ventilation by opening the austral windows and transoms above office doors, allowing fresh air to flow through the building interior.

The building structure consists of steel beams and columns, encased in concrete for fire protection. Below the concrete foundations are extensive concrete pilings. The mechanical system consists of steam radiators throughout the building, powered by the two original boilers. Central air-conditioning is provided for the offices in the lower fourteen stories, with a large central cooling tower located on the roof of the fourteenth floor. It was from this location, prior to World War II, that the well-known Columbian Mutual carillon chimed the quarter hours and rendered occasional bell concerts. The upper floors are served by three automatic electric elevators which have replaced the original manually operated gearless traction models. In addition, a hydraulic sidewalk elevator provides service to the basement from the Court Square sidewalk.

From the main entrance on the Mall, access is afforded to the lobby with its 25 foot ceiling and second story balcony, reached by the winding monumental stair. The wrought iron railing of the stair features a design which includes the CML initials. The lobby floor, walls, and stair are of Tennessee marble. The original coffered plaster ceiling has been partially remodeled with a bright red fabric covering. The original chandelier, however, remains intact. The overall scale of the lobby retains a unique intimacy and sense of human scale which characterizes the entire building and sets the Columbian Mutual Tower apart from the often scaleless quality of many modern high rise commercial office buildings.

The first and second floors consist of leasable office space which has been remodeled with acoustic suspended ceilings and lay-in fluorescent light fixtures, as have many of the offices on the upper floors. The entire third and fourth floors are occupied by the International Order of Odd Fellows. The organization's club rooms consist of a library, lounges, kitchen, billiards room, and a two story Lodge Hall, measuring approximately 39 feet x 53 feet, located in the northeast corner of the building. The Hall is illuminated by full height windows along the east wall. From the fourth floor, a second meeting room and the billiards room overlook the main Hall from balconies fitted with folding shutters. The remaining floors of the building's base are, for the most part, occupied by the Lincoln American Life Insurance Company. The building was the first in the city to feature an innovative office floor plan which grouped a series of small private offices around a central secretarial pool and reception area.

Above the fourteenth story, floors fifteen through twenty consist of a central elevator and stair lobby with groups of offices on the north and south sides. The twenty-first floor, now used as the Lincoln American board room, was originally the private office of Lloyd T. Binford. The office was paneled in wood, with a moulded plaster ceiling and marble floor. It included a private restroom equipped with a shower. The board room features a spectacular view in all directions of Memphis and the Mississippi River. Contained in the attic space above the twenty-first floor are the elevator machinery and the main water supply tank. A spiral stair leads to a trap door which opens onto the cupola at the summit of the tower.

With the exception of the alterations referred to above, the original interior finishes remain largely intact. These include pink marble corridor floors and toilet room partitions, birch and oak door trim, and brass finish hardware. The building has been meticulously maintained over the years and is generally in excellent condition considering its age.