Jan 08, 1980
National Register of Historic Places - U.S. Courthouse
Statement of Significant: At the time of its completion in August, 1940, the United States Court House in Seattle was the first building in the West to be designed solely as a Federal Courthouse. It was only the second federal courthouse building to be constructed in the United States (the first was in New York City). The building embodies a Modernistic style of Federal architecture that was to disappear after World War II. Classical proportions, coupled with art deco period details and a formally arranged lawn, make the CH a unique and vital structure in Seattle's Central Business District. The CH site was originally the location of Seattle's first hospital. On April 25, 1878, the sisters of Charity of the House of Providence established Providence Hospital at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Madison Streets, overlooking the town of Seattle and Elliott Bay. The old Moss Family residence, the first structure on the site, was used for the original hospital. In 1882, the sisters purchased the entire block (between Sixth and Fifth Avenues and Spring and Madison Streets) and built a new 25 bed structure. The hospital continued to serve the growing city until September 24, 1911, when the facility was moved to larger quarters on 17th Avenue. Seattle's first hospital site was added to the Seattle Historical Society's List of Historic sites in 1967. A bronze commemorative plaque has been installed at the foot of the stairway to the main entrances, at Fifth Avenue. On June 22, 1936, Congress approved $1,636,000 for site acquisition and construction of a new courthouse building in Seattle. By the time construction was completed, the total cost figure had increased to $1,707,000. In November, 1938, designs were approved by the Office of the Supervising Architect in the Federal Works branch of the Department of the Treasury. At that time the Supervising Architect was Louis A. Simon. Neal A. Melick was Supervising Engineer, W. G. Noll Superintendent of Architecture, N.S. Thompson Superintendent of Engineering, and T.C. Brooks Superintendent of Structural Engineering.
National Register of Historic Places - U.S. Courthouse
Statement of Significant: At the time of its completion in August, 1940, the United States Court House in Seattle was the first building in the West to be designed solely as a Federal Courthouse. It was only the second federal courthouse building to be constructed in the United States (the first was in New York City). The building embodies a Modernistic style of Federal architecture that was to disappear after World War II. Classical proportions, coupled with art deco period details and a formally arranged lawn, make the CH a unique and vital structure in Seattle's Central Business District. The CH site was originally the location of Seattle's first hospital. On April 25, 1878, the sisters of Charity of the House of Providence established Providence Hospital at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Madison Streets, overlooking the town of Seattle and Elliott Bay. The old Moss Family residence, the first structure on the site, was used for the original hospital. In 1882, the sisters purchased the entire block (between Sixth and Fifth Avenues and Spring and Madison Streets) and built a new 25 bed structure. The hospital continued to serve the growing city until September 24, 1911, when the facility was moved to larger quarters on 17th Avenue. Seattle's first hospital site was added to the Seattle Historical Society's List of Historic sites in 1967. A bronze commemorative plaque has been installed at the foot of the stairway to the main entrances, at Fifth Avenue. On June 22, 1936, Congress approved $1,636,000 for site acquisition and construction of a new courthouse building in Seattle. By the time construction was completed, the total cost figure had increased to $1,707,000. In November, 1938, designs were approved by the Office of the Supervising Architect in the Federal Works branch of the Department of the Treasury. At that time the Supervising Architect was Louis A. Simon. Neal A. Melick was Supervising Engineer, W. G. Noll Superintendent of Architecture, N.S. Thompson Superintendent of Engineering, and T.C. Brooks Superintendent of Structural Engineering.
Jan 08, 1980
Posted Date
Jul 24, 2023
Historical Record Date
Jan 08, 1980
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
