The Interurban Building, also known as The Pacific Block and Seattle National Bank Building, was designed by John Parkinson (architect) and was constructed over the two year period of 1890-1892. This was one of many buildings constructed after the Great Seattle Fire in 1889. It is located in the historic district of downtown Seattle, Pioneer Square, at the southeast corner of Yesler Way and Occidental Avenue South. Carved terracotta became a popular architectural adornment in England in the 1860s and in the United States in the 1870s. This terracotta lion’s head graces the arched doorway that at one time was the entrance to the bank. To view a very wide angle (fish-eye) view of the entire Interurban Building.
I always wonder why they made carvings like this so fierce. Was it to discourage loitering or breaking in? Why did they not make smiling, happy carvings? I like the colour, though – kind of unique for a bank.