The founding of Seattle dates to 1851, when nearly two dozen Euro-American pioneers arrived from Illinois to settle Alka Point. Led by Arthur A. Denny, those families are known to history as the “Denny Party.” Their small community was the first non-Native American settlement in region, which primarily harvested timber from the surrounding forest. But the water surrounding Alki Point proved to be too shallow to accommodate the commercial vessels that transported the lumber. The pioneers thus relocated a few miles to the north along Puget Sound, specifically at the mouth of the Duwamish River near Elliot Bay. Shortly thereafter, those settlers were joined by another group under the direction of David Swinson Maynard who many referred to as “Doc.” Maynard’s group set up just south of the Denny Party, and over time, those two communities melded together. Right next to the village was also a vibrant community of local Duwamish Indians governed by a “Chief Seattle.” The two groups formed a close bond that proved to be beneficial over the next decade. In honor of the chief, the settlers eventually called their settlement “Seattle.” The name stuck, even after the Territorial Legislature formally incorporated the community in 1869. Logging remained the dominant industry within the community, with a steam-powered sawmill serving as its main venture. The village grew slowly at first, with Scandinavian immigrants from America’s East Coast constituting the majority of the new arrivals.

Nevertheless, the community’s population exploded when the Northern Pacific Railway arrived in nearby Tacoma. This development was further augmented when a second railroad—the Great Northern Railway—established an actual terminus within the city limits. Seattle’s population rose from around 3,500 in 1880 to more than 80,000 some two decades later. The railroads also transformed the city into a major hub for trade in the western United States, rivaling the likes of San Francisco in its commercial importance. Some 50 miles of wharves emerged in the heart of Seattle, which turned the area into a bustling seaport. The development of its waterfront even caused countless miners to use it as their main supply depot for the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s. Its metamorphosis into an international trading center spawned rapid urbanization, too, as all sorts of businesses quickly appeared for the first time. Seattle earned a reputation for being an “open city,” in which saloons and casinos dominated the local landscape. But as the city evolved more into a modern city, its politicians became increasingly concerned about its long-term future. Several activists within the early 20th-century Progressive Movement eventually drove out the officials who embraced the “open city” policies. In their wake, they instituted strict prohibitions against alcohol consumption and other “illicit” activities through the 1930s. But the progressives also made headways in such arenas like affordable housing and women’s suffrage. Nevertheless, the local Progressive Movement eventually ended right as the Great Depression began to start.

The city was able to lift itself out of the financial crisis, thanks in large part to the expansion of the defense industry in the years leading up to World War II. Seattle was a key manufacturer for the American war effort, producing all kinds of material for the military. The city itself was home to several major defense contractors, too. The greatest among those companies was Boeing, which created thousands of planes at its Seattle and Renton factories. Another business—the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation—employed some 33,000 people, who churned out countless ships during the war. By the late 20th century, Seattle had become one of the most economically vibrant destinations in the world. Supplementing this growth was the emergence of several prominent technological firms. Many high-profile names within the industry established a significant presence in the city, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Nintendo of America. Those businesses attracted talent from around the world, which saw Seattle’s population grow to two million people by the 1990s. The infusion led to a cultural proliferation that saw Seattle become a center for art and knowledge. Among the most famous trends to appear within the city currently was modern-day American alternative rock music. Seattle is now a celebrated destination among travelers the world over. It is one of America’s fastest growing cities in terms of its size and economy. But Seattle is also among the nation’s most diverse, as it has large demographics of people from across the globe. Few places in the United States can claim the cultural liveliness that defines Seattle today.

Despite its location in Seattle, the Hotel Ändra Seattle – MGallery Hotel Collection stands today as a brilliant, historic example of Chicago Commercial-style architecture. Commonly known as “Chicago School,” this unique architectural form first emerged in America’s Windy City at the height of the Gilded Age. While no actual “school” existed that taught the aesthetic, historians today agree that a common set of design principles unified the city’s architects around the turn of the 20th century. Among the most well-known features of Chicago Commercial-style buildings involved the use of steel frames clad in masonry (usually terra cotta). The reliance upon steel and durable masonry came about following the aftermath of the Chicago Fire of 1871, when most of the city’s preexisting structures were destroyed in the calamity. The building materials also allowed architects to install many large plate-glass windows throughout the façade. Called the “Chicago window,” the fixtures consisting of three parts centered along a panel that was flanked by two smaller sash windows. The arrangement resembled a grid, in which some spaces projected out from the exterior and formed additional bay units.

Nevertheless, the architects within the Chicago Commercial-style school of thought believed that their buildings should reflect the prosperity and technological progress of the Industrial Revolution. The structures thus borrowed several powerful aspects of Neoclassical architecture. Chicago Commercial-style skyscrapers were typically divided into the three distinctive sections that have historically formed what is known as the “classical column.” The lowest parts of the building acted as the base, where the most ornate architectural elements appeared. Much of the detailing occurred around the entryways, as well as any nearby windows. The middle floors of the structure often featured far less detail, which functioned as the “shaft” of the column. The grand ornamentation returned toward the final two stories though, creating what architects called the “capital.” The “capital” was typically defined by its flat roof and brilliant cornice, as well. Many buildings across Chicago brilliantly encapsulated this architectural approach, such as the Reliance Building, the Chicago Building, and the Rookery Building. The style’s popularity rapidly appeared in other cities, too, including a rapidly industrializing Seattle, Washington.