Did you know that the Alaska Building was Seattle’s first skyscraper? It held the title of the tallest building for about ten years. Now, let’s delve into the story of this iconic structure.
The Alaska Building stands proudly in Seattle. It is a 15-floor building completed in 1904. St. Louis architects Eames and Young designed it.
At the time, it was the tallest building in Washington state. The Alaska Building remained so until 1910. That’s when Spokane’s Old National Bank Building was finished.
In 2007, American Life, Inc. purchased the Alaska Building for $38.7 million. They renovated it into a Courtyard by Marriott, opening in June 2010. The renovation maintained the original exterior. The marble lobby, crown molding, and wood pillars were also preserved.
The Alaska Building’s story began in the early 1900s. Construction took only eleven months. Local architects Saunders and Lawton supervised the work. James Black Masonry Construction was the contractor.
It was the first steel-frame building of its kind in the Northwest. Its Beaux Arts style is somewhat rare for Seattle. The Frye Hotel is another example in the Pioneer Square-Skid Road National Historic District.
Seattle promoted itself as the “Gateway to the Klondike” in 1897. Alaskan prospectors arrived with a ton of gold. This campaign led to economic and population growth. The city’s infrastructure developed rapidly.
In 1903, the Scandinavian-American Bank purchased land at Second Avenue and Cherry Street. J.C. Marmaduke proposed building the Alaska Building. Bank shareholders supported the project to promote business between Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. It also served as a social club.
The Alaska Club, a commercial organization, met in the penthouse when the building opened. They had a reading room with Alaska newspapers and mineral exhibits. The Scandinavian-American banking hall was on the main floor. The Alaska Building paved the way for other impressive buildings on Second Avenue. It became known as the Second Avenue canyon.
Authors Lisa Mighetto and Marcia Babcock Montgomery noted its significance. They wrote that the Alaska Building symbolized the gold rush in Seattle. The porthole windows on the top floor overlooked shipbuilding, shipping, and rail industries. A gold nugget once embedded in the front door reminded visitors of the city’s connection to the Far North.
The Alaska Building is still a prominent structure in the Pioneer Square Historic District. The city created the district in 1970. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places that same year. Stickney/Murphy architects rehabilitated the Alaska Building in 1982. Today, the Alaska Building stands as a testament to Seattle’s vibrant history and architectural innovation.