Northern Pacific Office Building, Victorian office building in downtown Tacoma, United States.
The Northern Pacific Office Building is a three-story brick and stone structure in downtown Tacoma sitting on a high bluff overlooking Commencement Bay and railroad switching yards. It maintains its original location across from Tacoma City Hall at the northern end of Pacific Avenue in the central business district.
Built in 1891 as the Northern Pacific Railway headquarters, the building originally housed 53 offices, storerooms, and 19 fireproof vaults for railway operations. The rectangular portion was demolished in 1975, though the original circular tower section survived.
The Second Empire design reflects how important railway administration buildings were to late-19th-century American commercial life and growth.
The building sits in downtown Tacoma near Tacoma City Hall and is easily reached along Pacific Avenue in the central business area. Its elevated location offers clear views of the bay and surrounding railroad facilities.
The surviving circular tower section is a rare remnant of the original complex, as most of the building has undergone changes over time. This remaining piece shows how old railway architecture endured through Tacoma's rapid growth.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
