The storied past of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel

If the partitions of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel could speak, what would they say? Historian Feliks Banel joined New Day NW to speak about just that — the intriguing heritage of this legendary Seattle landmark. 

“It was originally known as the Olympic Lodge, and it opened on December 6, 1924,” Banel claimed. “That grand opening celebration was possibly the most important event the town experienced viewed probably in its historical past to that point, one thing like 2,500 folks there all decked out in their greatest 1920s clothing.”

From stay bands and dancing in 4 unique ballrooms to a radio station broadcasting five hours of dwell protection of the party, the Olympic Resort was the location to be that evening. 

But its history goes back farther than that. Ahead of it was a lodge, it was truly household to the University of Washington. Then called the Territorial College of Washington, it was initially located in what is now downtown Seattle’s financial district. Arthur Denning, a person of Seattle’s founders donated his land to build the college. 

Immediately after UW moved to where it is at this time, the 10 acres of land became primary genuine estate for skyscrapers and other properties. Iconic buildings had been designed including the Olympic Lodge, the Cobb Making, and the Henry Stuart Developing, exactly where the new Rainier Tower stands now.

“It turned this type of metropolis within a metropolis,” Banel reported. “It was actually the sort of the cradle or the birthplace of the fashionable Downtown Seattle that we choose for granted now.”

This new metropolitan region was a massive offer again in the day, with the word “metropolitan” keeping a whole lot of weight, even becoming the namesake for Seattle’s hockey team. Which is proper — right before there was the Kraken, there was the Metropolitans. Named right after the creating firm that built the Olympic Resort, they became the first American workforce to earn the Stanley cup.

A different huge draw for the folks remaining at the Olympic Lodge was the historic Metropolitan Theatre, which was the place the round driveway on College Avenue is now. The theater was torn down in 1954 to create area for “America’s most stunning hotel entrance.” In advance of the University Avenue entrance was there, the key entrance made use of to be on Seneca Avenue, a block south.

In the course of Planet War II, you could come across some of the most important famous people of the time — from Carole Lombard to Bob Hope — keeping at the Olympic Resort and providing war bonds. 

“They would maintain massive rallies out in the middle of College Road in between Fourth and Fifth, proper future to in which the hotel is, at a location identified as Victory Square,” Banel claimed.

The lodge has definitely altered a great deal because it first opened, but its attraction and magnificence has never ever light.

Section Producer Suzie Wiley. Observe New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming stay on KING5.com. Make contact with New Day.