U.S. Courthouse, Seattle
historic place
The U.S. Courthouse in Seattle, a notable historic place in King County, was completed in 1940. This building holds significance as the first single-purpose federal courthouse constructed in the western United States. Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the courthouse features an Art Deco architectural style. Its construction cost $1.7 million. The site itself has historical roots, having previously been the location of Seattle's first hospital. Upon its completion, the courthouse consolidated various federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, and the Alcohol Tax Unit. It also served as a venue for naturalization ceremonies for immigrants to the Pacific Northwest. In 1980, the building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Later, in 2001, it was renamed the William Kenzo Nakamura U.S. Courthouse, honoring a Seattle native and Medal of Honor recipient. Today, the building primarily serves the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This site reflects a significant period of federal investment and civic development in Seattle.