It is with great pleasure that we invite our community to join us for an exclusive open house program at one of First Hill’s few surviving historic mansions: the Hofius House.

Registration is required and there will be no sales at the door. This will be a self-guided tour, in which informational posters will guide visitors through the house. Click here to register now!

More about the Hofius House

William Dugan Hofius came to Seattle in 1894 from Pennsylvania after growing up working in the steel industry. He formed a partnership with William Pigott and organized the firm W.D. Hofius & Co. which manufactured and sold railroad equipment and supplies. This was the predecessor to the Hofius Steel & Equipment Co., which furnished the steel for many prominent Seattle buildings. He remained at the head of his business until his death in 1912. The 1902 First Hill residence for William and his wife, Lucy was designed by the architect Albert Spalding. The finely laid brickwork, copper roof and dormers, and terra cotta porch and veranda of this outstanding house would have been as out of place in Seattle when it was built as it is today. The Venetian Gothic palazzo style was not common in Seattle. It would have been more at home on Chicago’s Gold Coast or New York’s Fifth Avenue, where brick, stone, and terra cotta were commonly used for those cities’ great mansions. Since 1920, it has been the property of the Roman Catholic Diocese and until recently it housed the archbishop.

A note on ticket pricing: If the ticket fee presents a challenge for attending this program, please contact our Community Programs Manager, Evan Bue.