The Elks Building in Vancouver, Washington
historic place
The Elks Building, a historic place in Vancouver, Washington's Clark County, was constructed in 1911. Designed by Portland architect Robert F. Tegan, the three-story brick structure exhibits elements of Mission Revival and medieval Italian influence. The Vancouver Elks Lodge purchased the site in 1907, with the intention of building an impressive temple. The Elks organization occupied the second and third floors, utilizing them for meetings, reading rooms, and a large auditorium. The ground floor was leased for commercial use. For many years, the Elks club was a prominent fraternal organization in Vancouver, reflecting the importance of such groups in community life from the 1880s through the 1930s. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Today, the Elks Building stands as the last remaining fraternal lodge in downtown Vancouver, representing a significant piece of local history.