Seattle’s Pioneer Building stands as a testament to the city’s indomitable spirit and architectural ingenuity. Erected by the visionary pioneer Henry Yesler after the devastating Great Seattle Fire of 1889, this iconic structure at the corner of 1st Avenue and James Street is more than just a building; it’s a symbol of Seattle’s rebirth and a cornerstone of its rich history. Designed by Elmer H. Fisher, The Pioneer Building masterfully blends Victorian and Romanesque Revival styles, setting the architectural tone for the city’s reconstruction and becoming a defining feature of the Pioneer Square Historic District.
Henry Yesler: From Sawmill to City Builder
Henry Yesler’s journey in Seattle began long before the Great Fire. Arriving in 1852, he established a sawmill on Puget Sound, which became the nucleus around which Seattle grew. His initial cookhouse, built in 1852, evolved into Yesler Hall, a significant social and commercial space. Yesler’s entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond timber, encompassing real estate and public service, making him a pivotal figure in Seattle’s development.
Alt text: Turn-of-the-century view of Pioneer Square in Seattle, showcasing the Pioneer Building as a prominent architectural feature within the bustling urban landscape.
Even after a major fire in 1879 destroyed his second sawmill, Yesler demonstrated remarkable resilience by rebuilding and diversifying his interests. By 1888, he was ready to embark on his most ambitious project yet: the Pioneer Building. He commissioned Elmer H. Fisher to design this landmark structure, initially planned for half a city block. However, fate intervened with the Great Fire of June 6, 1889, which razed Seattle’s commercial district, leaving only the excavation site for the Pioneer Building amidst the devastation. Fisher’s surviving blueprints, now preserved at the University of Washington Libraries, became crucial for the city’s reconstruction.
Rising from the Ashes: The Pioneer Building Emerges
The Great Fire prompted Seattle to rebuild with more robust materials and updated building codes. The Pioneer Building became a showcase of this new era. While rooted in Victorian design, Fisher incorporated Romanesque Revival elements, reflecting a broader architectural trend and adapting to the post-fire building ordinance of July 1889.
Oschner and Anderson suggest this stylistic shift was driven by practical considerations for masonry commercial architecture rather than purely following fashion. Alongside the Bank of Commerce Building (now Yesler Building) and the Mutual Life Building, the Pioneer Building exemplified this architectural transition, blending Victorian detailing with Romanesque arches and robust construction.
Alt text: Historic photograph circa 1905 of the Pioneer Building in Seattle, highlighting its distinctive corner tower and intricate architectural details in the Pioneer Square area.
Originally conceived as a narrower structure, the Pioneer Building expanded to fill its lot after the fire, divided into two sections by a firewall. Its design featured a prominent corner tower (later removed after earthquake damage in 1949), cast iron bays, and a facade of Bellingham Bay sandstone and red brick. The building, costing a substantial $250,000 at the time, was intended as a lasting tribute to Seattle’s pioneers and their enduring legacy.
Inside the Pioneer Building: Innovative Design and Early Tenants
The interior of the Pioneer Building was as remarkable as its exterior. Divided by a firewall, the two halves were connected by arched openings on each floor. A central skylit atrium, spanning from the second floor to the roof, illuminated the 185 office rooms. This innovative design maximized natural light, reflecting through interior windows and creating a bright and airy workspace, a significant departure from typical office buildings of the era. The ground floor was designed for retail and banking, while the basement housed services like a barber shop with a street-level entrance.
The 1891-1892 city directory reveals the Pioneer Building’s prestigious early tenants. The Puget Sound National Bank occupied the prime corner space, while the upper floors housed a diverse mix of businesses, including the Union Trunk Line cable car company, Mc Mullen-Winsor Lumber Company, and the King County Medical Society. Advertising agencies, real estate firms, and even a weekly publication, Central West, also called the Pioneer Building home, reflecting its status as a central hub of Seattle’s burgeoning commercial life.
Adapting to Change: Regrades, Decline, and Rediscovery
Seattle’s rapid growth in the late 19th century brought significant changes to the city’s landscape. Street regrades in the early 1890s dramatically altered the topography, burying Commercial Street and the original ground floors of many post-fire buildings, creating the “underground Seattle” that exists today.
Despite its initial prominence, the Pioneer Building faced decline as Seattle’s commercial center shifted uptown. By 1950, much of the building was vacant, a stark contrast to its vibrant beginnings. However, the seeds of preservation were sown in the 1960s when architects and developers recognized the historical and architectural value of Pioneer Square.
Alt text: Contemporary photograph from 2008 of the Pioneer Building in Seattle, showcasing its beautifully restored facade and ongoing presence as a vital part of Pioneer Square.
Saving a Landmark: Preservation and Modern Revival
The Pioneer Building became a focal point of the historic preservation movement in Pioneer Square. Facing proposals for demolition and replacement with parking garages, preservationists, led by groups like Allied Arts of Seattle, championed restoration. William and Shirley Speidel’s popular Underground Tours, starting in the Pioneer Building, further galvanized public support for preserving the area’s historic character.
In 1970, Pioneer Square was officially designated a Historic District. Ralph Anderson, a key figure in local preservation, undertook a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Pioneer Building in 1973 for the Theta Corporation. This meticulous restoration addressed structural damage, modernized building systems, and meticulously restored architectural details, transforming the “derelict building into the city’s premier example of restoration,” as Larry Kreisman noted.
The Pioneer Building Today: A Living History
Today, the Pioneer Building stands revitalized, a vibrant mix of offices, businesses, and historical attractions. The Underground Tour continues to operate from its base in the building, while law offices, antique shops, and restaurants occupy its historic spaces. Metro (Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle) was once a major tenant, and government agencies have played a role in supporting the revitalization of historic downtown buildings.
The Pioneer Building, along with the Pergola and Totem Pole in Pioneer Square, is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It not only embodies Seattle’s pioneering past but also its ongoing commitment to innovation and preservation. From its resilient origins after the Great Fire to its modern-day vibrancy, the Pioneer Building remains a beloved Seattle landmark, a testament to the city’s enduring spirit and architectural heritage.
Sources:
Jeffrey Karl Ochsner and Dennis Alan Andersen, Distant Corner: Seattle Architects and the Legacy of H.H. Richardson (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003); Lawrence Kreisman, Made to Last: Historic Preservation in Seattle and King County (Seattle: Historic Seattle Preservation Foundation and University of Washington Press, 1999), 85, 90-92; Thomas W. Prosch, A Chronological History of Seattle From 1850 to 1897, typescript dated 1900 and 1901, Seattle Room (10th floor, downtown), The Seattle Public Library, Seattle; Lisa Mighetto and Marcia Montgomery, Hard Drive to the Klondike; Promoting Seattle During the Gold Rush (Seattle: University of Washington Press and Northwest Interpretive Association, 2002), 2-4; Sophie Frye Bass, Pig-Tail Days in Old Seattle (Portland: Binfords & Mort, 1937), 25; Victor Steinbrueck, Seattle Cityscape (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1962), 52-53; Maureen R. Elenga, Seattle Architecture: A Walking Guide to Downtown (Seattle: Seattle Architecture Foundation, 2007), 21-23; Walt Crowley with Paul Dorpat, National Trust Guide Seattle; America’s Guide for Architecture and History Travelers (New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998), 36-41; C. W. Austin and H. S. Scott, The Great Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889, (Tacoma, Puget Sound Printing [1889] 1965); Clark Humphrey, Vanishing Seattle (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2006), 48; Corbett’s 1891-92 Seattle City Directory, (Seattle: Corbett & Co., 1892); Polk’s Seattle City Directory, (Seattle: 1974-1977); “History,” Seattle Underground Tours website accessed January 15, 2009 (http://www.undergroundtour.com/about/history.html); “Pioneer Building,” City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods, Historic Preservation, Historical Sites website accessed December 19, 2008 (http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/historicalsite/QueryResult.aspx?ID=-1119623451); Pioneer Building website accessed December 19, 2008 (http://www.pioneer-building.com); “History of Pioneer Square,” City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods, Historic Preservation website accessed January 14, 2009 (http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/pioneersquare_history.htm); Craig S. Bower, “Ralph Anderson,” Seattle Homes and Lifestyles website accessed January 15, 2009 (http://www.seattlehomesmag.com/Seattle-Homes-and-Lifestyles/February-2008/Ralph-Anderson/); Dean Stahl, “Taking the Long View,” Pacific Northwest Magazine, The Seattle Times, July 29, 2007 (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/); Friends of Francois website accessed January 24, 2009 (http://www.friendsoffrancois.com); HistoryLink.org online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, “Underground Tours of Pioneer Square begin in August 1964” (by Walt Crowley), and “Fisher, Elmer H. (ca. 1840-1905)” (by Heather Macintosh), and Mutual Life Building Seattle (by Dotty DeCoster) http://www.historylink.org (accessed January 21, 2009).
