Washington Building. The venerable Washington Building is still located in downtown Tacoma at So. 11th & Pacific Ave. Initial construction was in 1919 for the Scandinavian-American Bank but was halted when the bank failed. It was finally completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. At 17-stories, it was the "second tallest in the entire Northwest" at the time. Located in the heart of the commercial district, the striking structure had a large red neon sign indicating the presence of its neighbor, the Bank of California. Other businesses in the vicinity included Peoples department store across the street and Selden's furniture store next door. A $700,000 cooling and heating system was installed in August of 1970 in the Washington Building. The system was set to begin operations on or about September 15, 1970. The 400-ton-capacity cooler was installed under the building and the 2-ton cooling tower on the roof. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building. (article on cooling system - TNT 8-16-70, A-18)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Washington Building. This color photograph of the Washington Building was believed to have been taken from the viewpoint of the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association building on August 6, 1970. The red neon Bank of California sign on top of the Washington Building stands brightly out amidst the gray landscape. One side of the 17-story structure faces 11th St.; at that time 11th St. was a one-way street only, heading uphill. Other notable buildings in the vicinity included Peoples department store across the street; Seldens furniture next door, and the Tacoma Building. A sliver of the Bank of California with the Commerce Savings & Loan banner is visible. Color photograph ordered by the Washington Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Washington Building. View of the Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., believed to have been photographed from the top of the Perkins Building in August of 1970. From this angle, the distant Art-Deco styled Medical Arts Building (now Municipal Building) can be seen along the right-center edge. The Rust Building, another well known Tacoma landmark, is slightly up the hill at 950 Pacific. Seldens furniture store is in the right lower corner. A small section of the Bank of California, whose large red neon sign rested on top of the Washington Building, can be spotted at the lower right edge. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1971 Richards color stock footage featuring the Washington Building in the downtown business district. The Bank of California's red neon sign and the United States flag are prominently displayed on top of the 17-story Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. The Bank of California was a much smaller building nearby. Other neighbors include Seldens furniture store and the Tacoma Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flags--United States; Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma);

Located at the busy intersection of So. 11th & Pacific in downtown Tacoma's business district is the imposing 17-story Washington Building. To the photograph's left are the Commerce Savings & Loan Association and the Bank of California. A large red neon sign noting the presence of "Bank of California" is also on the rooftop of the Washington Building. Remodeling is occurring at Selden's Carpet & Floor Coverings, located behind the Washington Building on South 11th St., as the home center is completing modernization. The 1910-era Tacoma Building is the large structure on A Street close to Selden's. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building Co. BU-10,894

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Washington Building. Situated at the corner of 11th & Pacific, the imposing Washington Building, built in the style of the Chicago School, stands 17 stories high. A large red neon sign installed on the top of the building advertised its neighbor, the Bank of California. As their signs advertised, United Mutual Savings Bank and Household Finance had offices in the Washington Building. The left side of the photograph shows the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Ave., also built in the 1920's. Beyond the Rust Building, on Tacoma Ave. So., is the County-City Building. The Medical Arts Building, on Market St., is the large Art-Deco structure on the right side of photograph. Photograph ordered by Washington Building Co.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Roy Woods (left) and Joe McGovern stand on a platform outside the 17th floor of the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. in this photograph from September 1948. The Earl Painting Company, owned and managed by Earl Gallmeyer, had been contracted to paint the sashes and frames of the 900 windows in the 237 foot building. (T.Times, 10/11/1948, p.5)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Earl Painting Co. (Tacoma); Painting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Architectural elements--Tacoma; Capitals (Columns)--Tacoma; Cornices--Tacoma; Pilasters--Tacoma; Sash windows--Tacoma;

The top of the Washington Building tower, circa 1925. At 17 stories, almost everyone had to look up at this building, it was the second highest in the Northwest. The Washington Building was innovative in grouping its tenants by fields and making offices specific to those fields. The top floors were dedicated to doctors and medical offices. Some floors were huge open spaces on completion, for large concerns who would dictate where partitions would be placed. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 1) (WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The 17 story Washington Building near completion. The building was officially opened at the end of June, 1925. The ground floor was occupied by the Brotherhood Cooperative Bank, Theodore Knutson's cigar store, Henrietta McNerthney's Purity Pharmacy and the "Orange Bower," the first orange mill in Tacoma. The orange mill's specialty was fresh squeezed orange juice, that you could watch being processed by a machine. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 13)(WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Washington Building as completed. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank, unfinished when bank failed. The steel framework was completed by a group established for that purpose, the Washington-California Co. Frederick Webber, Original Architect; Doyle and Merriam, Architects for completion. The Washington Building opened at the end of June in 1925. (WSHS & Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The new Washington Building had its Grand Opening in June of 1925. Construction of the building was begun in 1919 for the Scandinavian American Bank and halted in 1921 when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925 and was, at that time, the second tallest building in the Northwest. The main tenant at its opening was the Brotherhood Cooperative National Bank. The Cooperative Bank was the first of its kind in any Northwest City. Although it was part of the Brotherhood group of banks, strong in the eastern part of the country, the local bank had local supporters, management and share holders, many of them working men. It was approved by both the Federated Improvement Clubs of Tacoma and the labor unions. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 14)(WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Brotherhood Cooperative National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. The Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., under construction. This modern structure was originally designed by Frederick Webber in the style of the Chicago School for the Scandinavian American Bank. Construction began in 1919 and halted when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925 when the Washington-California Co. purchased the steel skeleton and completed the building. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. When it opened, it contained 350 office suites, including its main occupant, the Brotherhood Co-Operative National Bank. (WSHS) (TDL 6/28/1925, pg. 2B)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. Construction on the Washington Building started in 1919 for the Scandinavian- American Bank, but halted when the bank went bankrupt. The steel framework sat deserted until it was purchased by the Washington-California Co. In 1925, the building was completed. The steel framework was clothed in white terra cotta, which was glazed. It was fireproof. It had 1925 technologically superior Otis elevators, which could take visitors from the bottom to the top in 16 seconds. The building was completed with an investment of 1 1/2 million dollars. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg.1) (WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Washington Building under construction in April of 1925. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank and left unfinished when the bank failed, the building was completed and opened in June of 1925. At 17 stories, it was one of the skycrapers changing the skyline of Tacoma. The building is of steel framework, completed with glazed white terra cotta. The investment in the building was 1 1/2 million dollars. (filed with Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. The Washington Building under construction. Construction on the modern American skyscraper in downtown Tacoma began in 1919 for the Scandinavian American bank, but halted a couple of years later when the bank closed. The steel structure sat deserted until it was completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and dedicated on June 29, 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. (WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. and on the left, the Rust building at 950 Pacific Ave.The Washington Building was finished in 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. The Rust building measures in at 12 stories. It is named after its builder William R. Rust. (WSHS-negative A695-0)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);