Adams in Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

G.B. Sanborn Building

Ballard Avenue Landmark District

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 29, 2021

1. G.B. Sanborn Building Marker

Inscription. This fine example of Romanesque architecture was built in 1901 and named in honor of Gustavus B. Sanborn, a pioneer Ballard businessman. Sanborn began his career as a carpenter in 1891. He owned a series of hardware stores on Ballard Avenue in the 1890s, and eventually moved his hardware store to this location in 1901, where he ran the business until his death a year later. Retailers William French and Peter Nelson operated their dry goods store here for a decade. In 1912 Norwegian businessman Thorvald Hauff moved his business, Hauff's Department Store, to the ground floor, where it operated until 1928. The upper levels of this building housed a variety of hotels and apartments over the years.

Built 1901

This historic marker was funded by a generous donation from
The Mycon Family and a grant from the City of Seattle

Erected by Ballard Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Norwegian-Americans, and the Washington, Ballard Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 47° 40.014′ N,

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122° 23.036′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in Adams. It is on Ballard Avenue Northwest, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5323 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle WA 98107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fisher Building (a few steps from this marker); Fremont Saloon (within shouting distance of this marker); Kutzner Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Scandinavian-American Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Matthes Block (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Olsen Furniture (about 400 feet away); White Front and St. Paul Saloons

Ballard Avenue Historic District image. Click for more information.

via NPS, unknown

2. Ballard Avenue Historic District

National Register of Historic Places Digital Archive on NPGallery website entry
Click for more information.

(about 400 feet away); Ballard Avenue Historic District / Ballard City Hall Bell (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seattle.

Also see . . . Summary for 5323 Ballard Ave. Details on the building and its past by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. (Submitted on September 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 29, 2021

3. G.B. Sanborn Building Marker

G.B. Sanborn Building image. Click for full size.

Rob Ketcherside via Flickr, May 29, 2017

4. G.B. Sanborn Building

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 705 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on March 3, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on September 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.