About

The First State Bank History

The Vault Venue, formerly known as The First State Bank, has been a part of Livingston’s history for over a century. Originally established in 1910 as Guaranty State Bank, it was one of the first branches of the Texas State Banking System in Livingston, TX. In 1918, the bank relocated to its current address at 415 N. Washington Ave. and rebranded as First State Bank.

For decades, First State Bank was at the heart of Livingston’s growth, contributing to the development of Polk County and playing a key role in the East Texas trade system. From rural retail and agricultural ventures to the thriving timber economy still present in East Texas today, the bank’s influence was vital to the area’s expansion. Fun fact: it was rumored to be one of the first buildings in town with central air conditioning—a big deal in Texas!

The bank operated in this historic building from 1918 until July 22, 1965, when it moved to a larger location just down the road. Though the bank continues to serve the community today, its original building was repurposed into office spaces for many years. That is, until March 2022, when we, the Smith family, purchased the building and began its transformation into what is now The Vault Venue.

One of our favorite parts of restoring this space has been hearing the stories from locals who remember visiting the bank as children or have memories of their parents and grandparents working there. This 100-year-old building holds a special place in the history of Livingston, and we’re honored to carry that legacy forward by turning it into a place where new memories can be made.

About Us...

The Vault Venue is owned and ran by The Smith Family

Welcome to The Vault Venue, a family-owned and operated event space located in the heart of downtown Livingston, TX. We are J.T. and Danielle Smith, and our love for weddings, events, and creating memorable experiences runs deep.

Our story began in 2010 in Austin, TX, while we were attending Texas State University. Four years later, after planning every detail of our own dream wedding, we tied the knot in August 2014. In 2018, we were blessed with our son, Wade, and our journey as a family took on a new chapter.

Livingston holds a special place in our hearts. J.T.’s grandfather, Jack Thomas, started his family here after returning from World War II, planting roots that have grown through generations. We are proud to continue that legacy and give back to the community we love.

Our dream of opening a unique event space became a reality when we had the opportunity to restore one of downtown Livingston’s historic gems—an original 1920s bank building. With the help of our family, including the support of Gigi, Terry Smith, a former owner of local favorites Thomas Mercantile and Sweet Gum Tea Room, we transformed this two-story building into The Vault Venue. The original bank vault and engravings from the First State Bank are still on display, adding to the vintage, industrial charm that we envisioned for the space.

We designed The Vault Venue to be a place where history and elegance meet to create the perfect setting for any occasion, from grand weddings to intimate family gatherings. As a family, we value connection, tradition, and helping others make memories that last a lifetime. We hope that you’ll choose The Vault Venue to celebrate your next special event.

We're located 45 mins North of Houston, 45 Mins from The Woodlands & Conroe area, 30 mins from Huntsville and 40 mins from Lufkin.

Our commitment at The Vault Venue is to create an environment that is welcoming and unique for all to celebrate, revive connections, and create lasting memories with our client's favorite people.

-The Smith Family

Danielle Smith

Owner

I am here to support you with any questions you may come across when planning your event, this includes clear support and information about our venue, bar packaging and vendor linkage and approval. Planning an event is a collaborative process we take seriously at The Vault Venue! Our goal is to build positive and trusting relationships to ensure our clients are well taken care of and their events run as smooth as possible!

Terry Smith

Owner/Tour Manager