The theatre was built by a man named Frederick Mercy, Sr. (it is unclear if he was a local resident), who felt that the city needed a grand vaudeville house, one that would eclipse any that had been built before. The architect B. Marcus Priteca who designed it had by then established a solid reputation for creating similar, highly ornate theaters elsewhere. The theatre was large, boasting 2,000 seats when it was built (it now has 1,500). Another highlight was a mural on the auditorium ceiling.The first performances were traveling vaudeville acts but as their popularity decreased in the 1930s thanks to the rise of movies, the theatre transitioned to showing only movies. It operated until it closed in the early 1970s and by this time, it was showing its age. The city bought it in 1975 but not long after a fire severely damage the building. Fortunately, the old theatre was saved and restored. This process included the painting of a new mural by the very same artist who painted the first one. The theatre reopened in 1978.

Capitol Theatre was built in 1920. It is a fine example of Italian Renaissance architecture.

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Home to the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Capitol Theatre is one of Yakima's most important landmarks. Completed in 1920, the building is historically significant for its architecture and its impact on the city's cultural development. In terms of design, it is a beautiful example of Italian Renaissance architecture with terra cotta decorative detailing, patterned brickwork, and five arched "niches" with windows and terra cotta ornamentation. Inside, the auditorium features a mural on the ceiling that has. The theatre has also been a key performing arts center for the city, hosting many artists, performances, and events over the years—all of which is essential for cultural growth. In recognition of its historic importance, the theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. 

Capitol Theatre

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This walk through downtown Yakima includes historic landmarks such as the Capitol Theatre and historic rail depot and concludes at Yakima Valley Trolleys. Be sure to also visit McAllister Museum of Aviation and Yakima Valley Museum. 

Founded in 1883, Yakima was small but growing community of 400 residents. The town grew more rapidly after the Northern Pacific Railroad built a train station (the town actually relocated to where the station was built, four miles to the north; the original site of Yakima is now Union Gap). By 1900, the population had grown to over 3,000; by the time the church as built, the city boasted around 14,000 people. As the city grew, religious institutions were established. First Baptist Church incorporated in 1890 with nine founding members. In its early days the congregation met in several locations including a school, the county courthouse, and a drug store. They built their first church, a wood-frame structure, in 1892. In 1906, the congregation started to make plans for the present church. Construction began in 1908 and was finished in early 1909. An educational wing was added in 1948. In the coming years, the church was remodeled a few times to stay-up-to date and to accommodate the needs of the congregation. The congregation started to consider selling the church in 2008. By then, it was difficult for many of the elderly members to go up and down stairs to attend church gatherings. A new owner bought the church in 2015 with plans to open a restaurant or other commercial use. The current status of the building is unclear.

Situated at the corner of 6th Street and Yakima Avenue, the former First Baptist Church is significant in the areas of architecture and religion. It was built in 1900 and is a striking example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The church features a robust heavy stone exterior (consisting of basalt, granite and sandstone), stained glass windows (two of which are circular in shape), a large tower on the southeast corner and a smaller one on the east facade, and a crenellated parapet running atop the towers and a portion of the exterior wall that gives the church a castle-like appearance. As for religion, the church served the First Baptist congregation for several decades and reflects the growth of the congregation during 20th century. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. As of March 2020, it appears to be vacant.

First Baptist Church

By 1900, Yakima was a bustling community. Its central location in the state along the Yakima River made it an important economic hub for the surrounding region. A number of industries were thriving especially agriculture, as irrigation transformed the lands (around 500,000 acres) around the city into excellent farmland. Shipping was also a key sector. Indeed, the railroads played a vital role in facilitating the city's prosperity. When the Yakima Freemasons announced they were going to build the temple, the community welcome the news. Upon completion, the building confirmed Yakima's status as an established city. It was also an important place where residents could socialize, which was essential in creating a strong community.The men who designed the building were local architects. One of them, it is alleged, studied archaeology excavation in Jerusalem, where he apparently helped excavate the temple of Solomon. This is perhaps where the idea for the design of the lodge hall originated from. Furthermore, supposedly the stone used to form the main entrance's arch was sourced from quarries near Jerusalem—where the stones used to build Solomon's temple came from.The Freemasons moved out of the building in 1965. The building remained vacant for a few years and was vandalized during this time. In 1969, a local architect bought and restored the old building. He also apparently renamed it to the Great Western Building. Various commercial, restaurants, and retail establishment were located in the building. Plans to convert into a hotel began in 2013 and the work was finished in 2015. The hotel plans to offer the lodge hall for events.

When it was completed in 1911, the former Masonic Temple was Yakima's tallest building. Still one of the city's most beautiful structures, it was erected by the Yakima Freemasons to be their new meeting place. The eight-story building is a fine example of the Second Empire architectural style with Classical elements incorporated into the design. Interesting features include a mansard roof, dormer windows, and pilasters (decorative elements that resemble columns) topped with Corinthian capitals. The most notable room inside is the lodge hall on the sixth floor, which was designed to replicate Solomon's Temple. It features 29 columns and a ceiling with stained glass windows. The building, which is now a boutique hotel, was added to the National Register of Historic Places 1996.  

Masonic Temple

Postmaster George W. Carey established Yakima's first post office on April 4, 1885. This was not long after the Northern Pacific Railroad forced the entire town relocate from its original site a few miles away (the railroad decided to build a train station at the new location). The post office was a small, wood-frame structure located at 1st and A Streets. As the town grew, the post office relocated to other buildings the coming years. Plans to develop the current building got underway in 1910. James Knox Taylor (1857-1929), the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury at the time, designed it. In addition to the post office and federal courts, other federal agencies and organizations occupied the building including the U.S. Marshals, the Land Office, Reclamation Service, and the Weather Bureau. During the next decades, the building underwent a number of changes. A one-story annex was built in 1926 in the back of the building. In 1939, this was torn down two three-story wings were built. Another addition was built in 1987. That year, the building was also modernized and renovated. It was given its current name in 1978, after Supreme Court Justice and Yakima native <a href="https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1328/william-douglas" target="_blank" style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(27, 27, 27);">William O. Douglas</a> (1898-1980), who served on the court for 36 years beginning in 1939.

Previously known as the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, the William O. Douglas Federal Building is a historic building located at the corner of 3rd and Chestnut Streets. The three-story tall building was designed in the Second Renaissance Revival style and completed in 1912. It features a number of interesting elements including arched windows, colonnades with Ionic columns on the second floor, and decorative stonework. The building is also significant as having been the site of the federal government's presence in the city for well over a century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

William O. Douglas Federal Building

ArchitectureThe building exhibits a number of interesting features. These include setbacks on the top floors; a salmon-colored brick facade with trim consisting of various types of materials including granite, terra cotta, and bronze; and a main entrance with panels of bronze grillwork above the doors. The interior boasts an ornate main lobby, featuring a terrazzo and marble floor, Black and white Italian marble walls, bronze elevator doors with floral and geometric designs, and stained glass windows above the interior doors of the main entrance.A.E. Larson A.E. Larson was born in Minnesota and first came to Washington in 1884. He worked in the lumber industry before settling in Yakima in 1891. There, he started his business career by investing in a local lumber yard. In the coming years, he would make additional investments. Eventually, he started to erect a number of buildings as including the Yakima Opera House (originally called Larson's Theatre and currently closed as of March 2020) and the Donnelly Hotel. Larson also became involved in other activities as well. He was vice president of the Yakima First National Bank, president of the Sunshine Mining Company, and even owned a Ford franchise. He advocated for increased irrigation of the Yakima Valley, served as chairman of the local Democratic committee, was a founding member of the Chamber of Commerce, and served as president of the Yakima Rotary club. He died in 1934.

Designed by architect John W. Maloney, the historic A. E. Larson Building remains one of Yakima's most prominent landmarks. The eleven-story building was erected in 1931—the city's first skyscraper—and is a fine example of Art Deco architecture. It is named after its builder, businessman A.E. Larson, who believed that the building was necessary to further Yakima's economic growth. It continues to be an important office building today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 for its Art Deco architecture and impact on the city's development. 

A. E. Larson Building

In 1884, the Northern Pacific Railroad was in the process of building train tracks towards the Puget Sound. In December of that year, it was approaching what was the original site of Yakima, which at the time was a small but bustling community of several hundred people. They expected Northern Pacific to build a depot there but the company had different plans. Instead, it built a depot at the current city of Yakima, forcing everyone to move there. The company informed the residents that there town was likely too swampy and therefore not suitable to build a depot. To lure residents to the new site, the company offered free land. Even so, there was speculation that the company's real purpose was to establish a new town where it could hold more influence.Whatever the reasons, the new town site was, fortunately, just a few miles away. The depot built there was eventually replaced in 1899 by one designed by notable architect, <a href="https://www.cassgilbertsociety.org/works/nprr-yakima/" target="_blank">Cass Gilbert</a>, who designed U.S. Supreme Court building. This depot eventually became insufficient for the growing city and was replaced by the depots that stand today. Northern Pacific would later merge with other railroads in 1970 to form the Burlington Northern Railway.

The Burlington Northern Passenger and Freight Depots are a pair of historic train stations in the downtown Yakima. The Northern Pacific Railroad built them in 1910. Although no longer serving their original functions, they remain important historic landmarks, representing the vital role railroads played in Yakima's growth and development. They are also significant architecturally. The passenger depot is fine example Mission Revival style. A large, long building, notable features include the salmon-colored brick facade and curved roof parapets (key features of Mission Revival architecture). As for the freight depot, its Mission Revival design is much simpler and is also smaller at just one-story tall. Both depots are now home to a few businesses including a winery (freight depot) and a coffeeshop (passenger depot). They are also contributing properties of the Old North Yakima Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Burlington Northern Passenger and Freight Depots

The streetcar system proved to be very important for the local apple orchard industry. Its tracks, and accompanying cold storage facilities, enabled people to develop orchard fields farther away and easily transport goods to the market.

Yakima Valley Trolleys operates the last authentic turn-of-the-century streetcar system in the country. From 1907-1965, the Yakima Valley Transportation Company operated passenger service (until 1947) and freight service (until 1985). The museum opened in 1985 and still has five miles of track on which vintage streetcars continue to ride today; at its peak the company had 44 miles of track. Two of the company's buildings survive today, the car barn/shop facility and powerhouse substation. Several vintage streetcars, including two from Portugal purchased in 1975, are at the museum. As it is the last streetcar system in the country, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Downtown Yakima Washington Walking Tour

Capitol Theatre

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information