The Grand Pacific Hotel was one of hundreds of substantial brick buildings constructed in the aftermath of the Great Seattle Fire . It was constructed as the California Block for the estate of the late Lewis M. Starr by his widow Eliza J. Starr , the executor of the estate . it was built at a cost of $ 75,000 and as reported in the summer of 1890 , $ 12,000 in stone , $ 3,000 in iron 1,200,000 bricks and 3,000 ft of lumber had gone into its construction . Due to the dramatic slope of the property towards Elliott Bay , the four story building had two additional floors below 1st Avenue , which housed various industrial enterprises . For most of the decade it was the only building located on the block taller than one story . The Galt Brothers were the building 's primary tenant in 1891 and The Seattle Woolen Mills would locate their offices in the lower floors during the Yukon Gold Rush . Though designed for office space , as early as 1892 , the building 's upper floors were occupied by the Ye Kenilowrth Inn , operated by Minnie Hayward . In 1902 it reopened as the Grand Pacific Hotel , which it is best known as today
Great Seattle Fire
Great Seattle Fire
Grand Pacific Hotel (Seattle)