Whatcom Museum of History and Art ( Old City Hall )

121 Prospect Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
United States (US)

Arts and Entertainment, Landmarks, Museums

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In 1891 plans were made to erect a new city hall on land donated by P.B. Cornwall after the towns of Whatcom and New Whatcom (formerly Sehome) consolidated.

After a contract of almost $40,000 was given and the excavation had begun, a newly elected city council decided to change the building’s location.

The location of the initial site was determined to be above an old mining tunnel.

Henry Roeder sold the city four new lots with a great view of Bellingham and Bellingham Bay for $5,000.

Whatcom City Hall was designed by local architect Alfred Lee in the Second Empire style of Victorian architecture, currently one of this style’s most exquisite example in the Pacific Northwest. This building epitomizes the general characteristics of this French inspired style, which are tall, bold and purposely three-dimensional. Some of the design elements are also an eclectic mixture of the Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival style. The Whatcom Museum building includes a high mansard roof, classical columns on either side of the main entrance, and a prominent, central bell tower.

The Museum’s exterior incorporates red brick with gray Chuckanut sandstone. The interior utilizes a variety of woods such as cedar for the original doors and balcony railings and maple for the first-floor paneling.

The Whatcom museum building is grand in scale with three stories, a full basement a large attic, and four matching cupolas on each of the corners. The stunning architecture of the city hall has made it the city’s jewel for years and a prominent feature of the city skyline.

Source: City of Bellingham

In 1891 plans were made to erect a new city hall on land donated by P.B. Cornwall after the towns of Whatcom and New Whatcom (formerly Sehome) consolidated.

After a contract of almost $40,000 was given and the excavation had begun, a newly elected city council decided to change the building’s location.

The location of the initial site was determined to be above an old mining tunnel.

Henry Roeder sold the city four new lots with a great view of Bellingham and Bellingham Bay for $5,000.

Whatcom City Hall was designed by local architect Alfred Lee in the Second Empire style of Victorian architecture, currently one of this style’s most exquisite example in the Pacific Northwest. This building epitomizes the general characteristics of this French inspired style, which are tall, bold and purposely three-dimensional. Some of the design elements are also an eclectic mixture of the Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival style. The Whatcom Museum building includes a high mansard roof, classical columns on either side of the main entrance, and a prominent, central bell tower.

The Museum’s exterior incorporates red brick with gray Chuckanut sandstone. The interior utilizes a variety of woods such as cedar for the original doors and balcony railings and maple for the first-floor paneling.

The Whatcom museum building is grand in scale with three stories, a full basement a large attic, and four matching cupolas on each of the corners. The stunning architecture of the city hall has made it the city’s jewel for years and a prominent feature of the city skyline.

Source: City of Bellingham