Temple de Hirsch, Seattle
historic place
Temple de Hirsch, a historic place in King County, Seattle, has a significant past. The congregation itself was founded in 1899 by seventy families, establishing Seattle's first and largest Jewish Reform congregation. It was named after Jewish philanthropist Baron Maurice de Hirsch. Construction for the temple building at Fifteenth Avenue and Union Street began in 1907. Designed by Seattle architect J.F. Everett in a neo-classical style, the cornerstone was laid in August 1906. The completed temple was dedicated on May 24, 1908. This original Temple de Hirsch building was recognized as a Seattle Landmark in 1980 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Despite its historical status, the building was demolished in 1993. However, some elements, including a stained-glass window, were salvaged. This site represents an important chapter in Seattle's religious and architectural history.