Camlin Hotel facts for kids
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Camlin Hotel
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The Camlin Hotel in downtown Seattle
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 Location in Seattle WA Downtown
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| Location | 1619 9th Avenue Seattle, Washington |
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| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Carl Linde |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000405 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 25, 1999 |
The Camlin Hotel is a historic building in Downtown Seattle, Washington. It has been an important part of Seattle's history. In 1999, the hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place worth protecting.
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History of the Camlin Hotel
Building the Hotel
The Camlin Hotel was designed by an architect named Carl L. Linde. He was known for building breweries. Linde made the hotel look like an Italian castle. It opened on October 31, 1926.
The hotel had 94 apartments. They included modern features like "shower baths" and small kitchens. The very top floor, the 11th floor, was one big penthouse apartment.
The Seattle Times newspaper wrote about the Camlin Hotel when it opened. They said it stood out from other buildings. They also mentioned the amazing views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The newspaper said no expense was spared in building it. They called it a "monument to Seattle's development."
Early Financial Challenges
Adolph Linden and Edmund W. Campbell helped pay for the Camlin Hotel. They were leaders at Puget Sound Savings & Loan. Soon after the hotel opened, some money problems were found. The bank's board learned that a large amount of money was used to finish the hotel.
To fix these problems, Linden and Campbell agreed to give their belongings to the bank. This included the Camlin Apartment Hotel. This agreement helped the bank try to recover. It took about a year for this plan to be officially recorded. The agreement was kept private at the time.
Selling the Camlin
The Puget Sound Savings and Loan bank faced more problems later. Before it closed in 1931, the Camlin Hotel was sold. It was bought by the Vance Lumber Company. This company already owned another hotel in Seattle called the Vance Hotel.
Changes to the Building
In 1942, the Vance Lumber Company decided to add a new feature. They wanted to build a cocktail lounge on the top floor. The penthouse apartment had not been very popular. So, it was changed into a famous place called the Cloud Room. At the same time, 50 new rooms were added to the hotel. This was done by making the original rooms a bit smaller.
The Cloud Room
The Cloud Room became a very popular spot. Many famous people visited there over the years. Some of these stars included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Elvis Presley. Music legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis also performed. Other famous musicians like Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, and Elvis Costello visited too.
The Cloud Room had a lively atmosphere with live music. Many performers got their start there. In the 1950s, a radio station called KVI AM 570 also had its studios and offices at the Camlin.
Later, the hotel was bought by Trendwest. The Cloud Room was closed and turned into new penthouse apartments. You can still see the Cloud Room in the movie The Fabulous Baker Boys. However, the famous scene where Michelle Pfeiffer sings on a piano was filmed elsewhere. That scene was actually filmed in Los Angeles.
Cabana Units and Pool
In 1960, Seattle was getting ready for the 1962 World's Fair. To prepare, the Camlin Hotel added 52 new cabana units. They also built a swimming pool and a sun deck. This project cost about $2 million.
Other Interesting Uses
After 1960, the Camlin Hotel was home to the Italian Consulate. This is like an office for the Italian government. Once, as a fun way to advertise, a 40-foot yacht was floated in the hotel's pool! When the boat's pump stopped working, it started to sink. This made even more news, with headlines like "Boat sinks in Downtown Seattle."
In the late 1960s, the Camlin Hotel hosted performers for the famous Sky River Rock Festival. This music festival took place in Sultan, Washington.
Changes in Ownership
The Camlin Hotel had many different owners in the late 1980s and 1990s. In 2003, Trendwest Resorts bought the Camlin. They wanted it to be one of their best properties. After more than a year and $21 million in renovations, the Camlin reopened. It is now known as "Worldmark Seattle: The Camlin."
