A disastrous fire in 1881 destroyed most of the frame buildings located in this block. Hastings architect C.C. Rittenhouse designed this building which was constructed in 1883.

The German National Bank was chartered in 1887 and moved into this building owned by bank president, Charles R. Dietrich in 1889. The bank's name appealed to the large number of German-born area settlers, and bank tellers spoke both German and English.

The United States entered World War I in April 1917 and excessive patriotism soon resulted in extreme anti-German sentiment. In a large newspaper ad dated April 20, 1917 the bank proclaimed its Americanism and announced its name had been changed to The Nebraska National Bank.

In March 1933, due to the depression, the nation's banks were closed for ten days. The Nebraska National Bank was placed in conservatorship and its assets frozen. Depositors could not withdraw their money. An entirely new bank, the City National Bank, opened here in January, 1934. It continued to operate from this location until 1941 when it moved across the intersection to 701 West Second.

Geyerman's Women's Wear opened in the east store room in 1936, and purchased the entire building in 1944. The building was completely remodeled in 1951, destroying its original Victorian exterior. This Geyerman store closed in 1976.

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