American Security and Trust Company: This bank building was constructed for the American Security and Trust Company and now houses a museum.

The American Security Bank was founded in 1889 in Alexandria, Virginia, as a banking and trust firm, with an additional branch in DC. It was the second trust company established in DC and the first to offer a woman’s department. By 1903, business had grown and expanded to this new location on Pennsylvania Avenue NW Construction began in 1904. Designed by architects Edward York (1868-1949) and Philip Sawyer (1863-1928), the Neoclassical exterior closely matches the adjacent Riggs National Bank. The building is constructed of granite ashlar blocks with deep horizontal joints at the corners creating a striped effect. The interior is largely faced in a variety of marbles. In 1931, the interior was remodeled but retained many of the original elements, excluding the removal of a pair of balconies and new openings into the adjoining annex, which formerly contained the bank vaults. MNC Financial purchased American Security Bank in 1987, but continued to operate under the original name. The National Bank purchased MNC Financial in 1993, and later merged with Bank of America, which then occupied the building.

The American Security and Trust Company building, along with the adjacent Riggs National Bank building, have been restored and rehabilitated and now house the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)National Register: July 16, 1973

Within Financial Historic District and Lafayette Square Historic District