Wenatchee in Chelan County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
First Chelan County Courthouse and Jail
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 12, 2017
1. First Chelan County Courthouse and Jail Marker
The building at 238 S. Wenatchee Avenue is a portion of the original Clark Hotel which later became the first Chelan County courthouse. The building had been constructed by the Wenatchee Development Co in 1893.
When citizens lobbied to form their own county out of Kittitas and Okanogan counties, this building was deeded to the fledgling government for $1 in 1900 on the condition that it was to be used as the courthouse Wenatchee would the succeed of becoming the county seat instead of Chelan.
The jail building located in back of the former hotel/courthouse, built circa 1910, is still standing and looks very much the way it looked when it was built. The jail has not been actively used since it was abandoned.
When the county constructed the new courthouse at the corner of Orondo and Washington in 1924, these buildings were purchased by John Doneen. The Doneen Hotel operated for the next 15 years. In 1939 Signal Oil leased the building and tore down the upper floor and most of the interior, keeping only the main section of the walls before opening a service station and sharing space with Kauffman Motor
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Erected by Wenatchee Downtown Association, Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, Community Foundation of N.C.W., Wenatchee Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau and Doneen Family Trust.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.
Location. 47° 25.267′ N, 120° 18.505′ W. Marker is in Wenatchee, Washington, in Chelan County. It is at the intersection of South Wenatchee Avenue and Kittitas Street, on the right when traveling north on South Wenatchee Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 238 S Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee WA 98801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Okanogan Highlands. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, 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 3 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 12, 2017
2. First Chelan County Courthouse and Jail Marker
The remains of the courthouse and the jail are across the street. What was left of the courthouse was demolished in February 2025.
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 12, 2017
3. First Chelan County Courthouse and Jail
This is the backside of the old jail. The remainder of the original courthouse is to the right. The remains of the courthouse was demolished in February 2025.
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 12, 2017
4. First Chelan County Courthouse and Jail
This is the backside of the old jail. The remainder of the original courthouse is to the right. The remains of the courthouse was demolished in February 2025.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 17, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
