The Hoge Building
historic place
The Hoge Building, located in Seattle, Washington, in King County, was completed in 1911. This historic place was constructed by and named for James D. Hoge, a prominent banker and real estate investor. The architectural firm of Bebb & Mendel designed the building. The Hoge Building stands seventeen stories tall, built with a steel frame, and finished with tan brick and terracotta. Its architectural style combines Second Renaissance Revival with elements of Beaux Arts. The steel frame was erected in a record thirty days in 1911. For a period, from 1911 to 1914, the Hoge Building held the distinction of being the tallest building in Seattle. It was later surpassed by the Smith Tower. The site itself holds earlier historical significance. It was reputedly the location of Carson Boren's cabin, considered the first house built by a white settler in what would become Seattle. This earlier structure, along with many others, was destroyed in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. After the fire, James D. Hoge's uncle, John Hoge, built a three-story brick building on the site. In its early days, the Hoge Building housed James D. Hoge's Union Trust & Savings Bank on its ground floor. Notably, Bill Boeing also maintained an office here in the early period of his company. Today, the Hoge Building is recognized as a historic place and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It represents a significant period of growth and architectural ambition in Seattle's history.