[1][3] The Egyptian was built by Charles Noble, a descendant of one of the area's first settlers, in 1922.

The building was designed by Lee Arden Thomas and Albert Mercier and includes piers decorated with papyrus blossoms, wrought-iron ceiling lights in the form of hooded cobras, and stairways with 8-foot (2.4 m) pharaoh statues.

[3][2] The main theatre seats 770 and is an example of the Egyptian Theatre style of Egyptian Revival architecture that was popular in the early 20th century in the U.S., especially following the 1922 discovery of the tomb of King Tut.

[5] In 2010, it was one of four remaining theatres in the Egyptian Revival style in the United States[3][1] and began inviting the community to use the facility for meetings, concerts, plays, and other events.

With unfunded $3 million renovations needed, the theatre was one of ten entries on the Historic Preservation League of Oregon's Most Endangered Places in Oregon list in 2011.