To spot the Mottman Building, look for a tall, three-story corner structure at Capitol Way and 4th, with large street-level windows, a classic cornice along the roof, and rows of bare trees right up against its pale façade.
Welcome to the legendary Mottman Building! Right here, you’re standing in front of a building that’s witnessed over a century of Olympia’s hustle and bustle. Imagine it’s 1888: the air smells of fresh-cut timber and horse-drawn carriages clatter by. Samuel Williams owned this corner, but Gallewski Kaufman and Ferdinand Toklas had outgrown their little shop across the street and decided, let’s make something BIG! So, the old Williams family house was rolled away and-voilà!-a two-story marvel in Italianate style rose up. With iron cornices and a special skyway to a two-story brick restroom, it was the talk of the town. People couldn’t stop gossiping: “Did you see the Olympic Block?” (That’s what they called it back then-maybe not the catchiest, but hey, it stuck for a while.)
But business in Olympia was fierce. In swept George Mottman, an ambitious young German who started as a clerk for Toklas & Kaufman-he worked hard, made friends, and rolled up his sleeves. Eventually, he became so successful he bought them out, and the Mottman Mercantile was born. By 1911, Mottman wasn’t just running the top department store; he was giving Olympia its most lavish, updated building. He hired big-city architects from Tacoma who brought swooping modern storefronts, an extra floor, and-get ready for this-Olympia’s very first elevator! Think of the excitement: neighbors riding up and down, dizzy with delight.
Even after the 1949 earthquake rattled town, the Mottman Building stood tall. Meanwhile, the department store buzzed until 1967, making this place the heart of Olympia shopping for generations. Try to picture the windows full of hats, shoes, and every imaginable treasure, with chatter and laughter pouring out onto the street. Snap to today, and you’re now part of this storied corner’s long saga.
So take a moment-peek at the ironwork, imagine the whir of old elevators, and marvel at the fact that Olympia’s pulse has been beating right here for over 130 years. Now, onto our next downtown adventure!
