Assay Office
historic place
Here in Seattle, King County, stands the historic Assay Office. The building was erected in 1886 by Thomas Prosch, initially functioning as an office and entertainment hall. Following the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush, Seattle required a federal assay office to process the influx of gold. The government leased this building, opening the Assay Office on July 15, 1898. It housed departments for melting and assaying precious metals. Operations continued here until 1932. In 1935, the building was acquired by Deutsches Haus, serving as a social center. This property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1972. It also received designation as a Seattle Landmark in 1983. The site reflects Seattle's economic and cultural development.