Covfefe (@hippie)

Maybe the Golden Age Looks Like This Times, they r a-changin’. And maybe—just maybe—we're beginning to see what that change could actually look like. For decades, we built for efficiency. Cheaper. Faster. Bigger. More practical. And somewhere along the way, we forgot something: Beauty matters. Look at the old National Farmers' Bank in Owatonna, Minnesota. A little “jewel box” of a building. Ornate. Handcrafted. Beautiful. It was a bank. They could have built a box. Instead, somebody decided that even a place where people deposited their money should be magnificent. That says something about a civilization. And now something interesting is happening. Trump is bringing beauty back into the conversation. His administration has explicitly pushed federal architecture toward traditional and classical designs, saying public buildings should uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, and foster civic pride. And it doesn't stop with buildings. There's an “America by Design” initiative aimed at making government services and public-facing spaces both more usable and beautiful. He's also pushed to restore monuments, improve the beauty of Washington, D.C., elevate America's historic sites, and emphasize the majesty of the nation's parks. Now, whether you love every part of Trump's agenda or not, this particular idea speaks to me. Because maybe the Golden Age isn't simply about prosperity, technology, or economic strength. Maybe it's also about beauty. About craftsmanship. About permanence. About building things we're proud to leave behind. About believing that ordinary people deserve to walk into a courthouse, a library, a train station—or even a bank—and experience something that lifts the human spirit. Make something useful. Make it last. And make it beautiful. That's a different philosophy of civilization. And maybe that's what we're beginning to see. Not simply a political change. Not simply an economic change. But a cultural change. A change in what we believe civilization itself should look like. Maybe we're remembering something we forgot. Maybe the pendulum is finally swinging back. And maybe the Golden Age isn't just about what we have. Maybe it's about what we build. What we preserve. What we pass down. And what we choose to make beautiful. The times, they r a-changin’. And maybe... beauty is coming back. ❤️ zoom in to see these amazing details National Farmer's Bank of Owatonna, Minnesota. It is definitely one of the most beautiful architectural gems. Built in 1908, it was designed by the great Louis Sullivan and prominent architect George Elmslie responsible for the decorative elements. It was the first of Sullivan's 'jewel box' bank designs scattered about the Midwest. I was blown away by the level of intricate detailing of the facade and especially the interior. The elaborate decorative reliefs, murals, stained glass, and those 4 incredible electroliers above are all just stunning. The fine terra cotta work inside and out is just fabulous as well. I highly recommend checking this truly stunning gem out of you're ever in Owatonna or traveling up/down I-35 in Southern Minnesota https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/national-farmers-bank-owatonna-we-finally-met/