Triangle Hotel and Bar
historic place
The Triangle Hotel and Bar, a historic place in Seattle, King County, was constructed between 1909 and 1910. Architect C.A. Breitung designed the building for financier Victor Hugo Smith. Its distinctive triangular shape is due to its location at the intersection of First Avenue South and former railroad tracks. The building initially operated as the Triangle Hotel, with a ground-floor saloon and eight rooms. Over time, it served various functions, including a brothel and a neighborhood tavern. From 1929 to 1954, the Western Union Telegraph Company occupied the ground floor as a branch office, using pneumatic tubing for communication. After 1954, the space returned to tavern use, known by names such as Jack's Bar, Lou's Tavern, and the Triangle Pub until 2020. The Triangle Hotel and Bar was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 1976. Its unique architecture and continuous role in Seattle's Pioneer Square district mark its historical importance.