City Hall Building-Plum Street

Location: 900 Plum St SE
mid-Century modern; Wohleb; Diversity: African-Americans; Women’s History

Aerial of City Hall postcard, around 1960s, from Moody Collection

City Hall-Plum Street Building (Creighton Justice Center) today (2014), photo by Deb Ross

The City Hall Building on Plum Street was the third purpose-built city hall for Olympia, after the Columbia Hall, and the City Hall on State and Capitol Way. It was designed by noted local architect Robert Wohleb and completed in 1966 shortly before his tragic death in a boating accident. The building received nationwide attention for its architectural innovation and good design.

The building is associated with both women’s and African-American history in Olympia. In 1988, Cora Pinson was elected to City Council, the first African-American woman to be elected to such a position in Washington State. Pinson was active in many community groups and government agencies and helped to bring the history of African Americans in our community to proper prominence.

In 2011, the new City Hall on Fourth Avenue was completed. This building is now used as a courthouse and associated services and programs, and was renamed the Lee Creighton Justice Center, named after a former city prosecutor and municipal judge.

Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Inventory

City of Olympia mid-Century modern tour guide