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Frankish Building

Historic building
In Ontario, California
3.0 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

The Frankish Building in Ontario, CA, is a three-story commercial and apartment block finished in 1916, about 4 miles off the old road. Charles Frankish, an early investor who shaped much of Ontario's growth, designed and built it with his son. With shops below and apartments above, it shows how a young Southern California town was dressing up its downtown in the years before Route 66 arrived.

What is Frankish Building?

The building follows the Second Renaissance Revival style, a look that was popular across America in the early 1900s. Its front is flat, with a flat roof, and the ground floor corners carry rusticated quoins, the heavy, rough-cut blocks that frame the edges. A wooden cornice supported on brackets runs along the top.

The street level was built for storefronts, while the second and third floors held apartments.

History of Frankish Building

Frankish and his son drew up the plans and oversaw the work in 1915 and 1916. Frankish had put money into Ontario early on and led much of its planning and promotion, including building a railroad and drawing the street plan for the city's south side. The building joined the National Register on August 11, 1980.

Visiting Frankish Building: tips

This is a private building, so enjoy it from the public sidewalk. A short stop is enough to take in the facade and cornice. The Russian Village District, the Tapia Adobe site and the Inland Empire Museum of Art are each about 3.8 miles away.

Practical info

On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Frankish Building

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Magic Lamp Inn
Rancho Cucamonga, CA · 3.3 mi from Frankish Building
A 1950s Route 66 steakhouse whose Aladdin's-lamp neon sign burns a real gas flame after dark.
Diner & restaurant
Sycamore Inn
Rancho Cucamonga, CA · 3.3 mi from Frankish Building
A steakhouse in a 1920 inn on Foothill Boulevard, on a site that fed travelers long before Route 66 existed.