John Bell Block

Dubuque, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Heritage registerNational Register of Historic Places↗

The John Bell Block, also known as the German Bank & Trust Building, is a three-story brick commercial structure in Italianate style located in Dubuque, Iowa's central business district. Constructed in 1886 by local businessman John Bell, the building became a significant hub for German immigrant businesses, most notably housing the German Trust and Savings Bank from its completion until 1922. The bank was forced to change its name to Union Trust and Savings Bank in 1918 due to anti-German sentiment during World War I; it later failed in 1932 during the Great Depression. Beyond banking, the building attracted prominent German-born professionals, including architect Martin Heer, who maintained offices beginning in 1888, and his later partner Guido Beck, known for designing commercial blocks and churches. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.