Alaska Trade Building

Did Seattle’s early builders anticipate the Klondike Gold Rush? Perhaps not when they built the Rose Block, but in 1909, rising from its ashes came the Alaska Trade Building. This sturdy structure, standing proudly near Pike Place Market, quickly became a symbol of Seattle’s growing connection to the Alaskan frontier. The Alaska Trade Building, made of reinforced steel, concrete, and brick, was advertised as completely fireproof, a major selling point in a city still recovering from the Great Seattle Fire. Originally envisioned as a grand eight-story hotel by architect John O. Taft, only four floors were constructed. Yet, even in its truncated form, the Alaska Trade Building exuded a sense of permanence and strength. It was briefly known as the Storey Building after developers from Portland, Oregon, purchased it. They transformed it into open loft spaces. But its true destiny lay elsewhere. In 1921, the Alaska Trade Building became the home of the Seattle Union Record. This was the nation’s only Union-owned daily newspaper. The paper, under the leadership of E.B. “Harry” Ault, thrived in its new home, its circulation soaring to over 112,000 in 1919. The Alaska Trade Building resonated with the energy of the labor movement, its walls echoing the clatter of printing presses and the passionate discussions of workers’ rights. While the Union Record ceased publication in 1928, the Alaska Trade Building continued to stand as a testament to Seattle’s industrious spirit. Today, this historic building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, still pulses with life. It houses businesses carrying on Seattle’s tradition of innovation and hard work, a legacy echoing back to the gold rush dreams of Alaska.