| Historic Name: |
Pier 14, Ainsworth and Dunn Wharf |
Common Name: |
Pier 70, Graham and Dunn |
| Style: |
Modern, Other |
Neighborhood: |
Downtown Urban Center |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1902 |
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| Significance |
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Renamed Pier 70 after World War II, Pier 14 was completed in 1902 and remodeled in 1915. It was remodeled in the 1970s and then again extensively in the late 1990s. Although its pier shed retains its overall shape, in the late 1990s, the shed was completely reclad with metal siding and its windows and doors have all been modernized and in many cases reconfigured. From an architectural point of view, the integrity of the pier shed has been compromised, however the historical background of the pier is significant enough to be noted.
The pier was built by Ainsworth and Dunn, who played a significant role in the early development of the central waterfront. In 1889, partners Ainsworth and Dunn, who had known each other since their boyhood in Vincent, New York, founded the Seattle Fish Company, an important fish processing and trading company. Around the same time, they also established a retail store at Second Avenue and Pike Street and by 1893, were located at the foot of Seneca Street. They also stored and sold grain and feed at this last location. In 1896, the company built the first version of Pier 8 (now Pier 59), which would be rebuilt again in 1904. By 1896, Ainsworth and Dunn also had canning operations in both Seattle and Blaine, Washington. Directly across Railroad Avenue from Pier 14, they also constructed a warehouse as additional storage in 1902 (2801 Elliott Avenue, now the Old Spaghetti Factory). Although Ainsworth and Dunn ultimately moved their entire operation to Blaine, the partnership retained ownership of Pier 14 to at least 1920.
By 1905, Pier 14’s main tenant was the Puget Sound Wharf and Warehouse Company. By 1912, the main tenant was the American and Hawaiian Steamship Company. By 1920, Pier 14 was operated by the Dodwell Dock and Warehouse Company. It was the terminal for the Northland Steamship Company and the Blue Funnel Line. In the late 1940s, the Coast Guard was based at the pier, with its north side providing moorage for visiting naval vessels.
By the 1970s, shipping lines no longer operated as they once did from this portion of Seattle’s waterfront. The pier shed was remodeled to house a variety of shops and restaurants. A second remodel was completed in the late 1990s, originally for Go2Net, which went out of business, as did many other dot.coms between 2000 and 2001.
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| Appearance |
| This wooden pier is located on the former Pier 14, now Pier 70 on the Seattle waterfront, near the foot of Broad Street. The pier itself is a four sided polygon, with two parallel sides. The north side, approximately 545’ and the south side, approximately 517,’ are parallel to each other and spaced apart 167’, while the two shorter sides are 214’ near the water’s edge and approximately 258 ’along Alaskan Way.
The pier shed plan is more or less a four sided polygon, again with two parallel sides. The two longer parallel sides are approximately 489’ in length and are spaced 121’ apart. A north-south section reveals an outer building profile similar to neighboring pier buildings. The east and west elevations are marked by false fronts, each with a distinguishing central curve. This was a distinguishing element of the original pier shed design. Exterior walls, which formerly were wood clad, are now clad in metal. The heavy timber interior is partially revealed in an open parking area on the north side of the pier shed. Many window and door openings have been reconfigured. In addition, window and door hardware has been completely replaced. |
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| Status: |
No - Altered |
| Classication: |
Structure |
District Status: |
INV |
| Cladding(s): |
Concrete, Metal, Wood |
Foundation(s): |
Other |
| Roof Type(s): |
Gable, Varied roof lines |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition |
| Building Type: |
Commercial/Trade - Warehouse |
Plan: |
Irregular |
| Structural System: |
Timber Frame |
No. of Stories: |
two |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Commerce, Transportation |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Windows: |
Extensive |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Extensive |
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Changes to Plan: |
Slight |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Dorpat, Paul. Seattle Waterfront: An Illustrated History. Seattle, June 2005.
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Sheridan, Mimi. “SR 99: Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project Historic Resources Inventory.” Draft, ca. 2004.
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