[2] The entire lot now occupied by the Union Trust Building (the 1893 portion) was originally filled by the 3-story Pacific House, one of the larger wood-frame hotels in Pioneer Square.

Designed by Boone & Meeker, It was built from late 1883 to early 1884 by soon-to-be territorial governor Watson C. Squire[3] and was operated by Eben A. Thorndyke.

[4] It continued on under new management until the great fire and despite the announcement of plans for a 3-story brick hotel to take its place immediately, the site would remain vacant for the next several years afterwards.

The Union Trust Company was incorporated in October 1892 by a wealthy syndicate consisting of bankers Edward O. Graves and Manson F. Backus, attorney Thomas B. Hardin, King County auditor William R. Forrest and now ex-governor Squire with a capital stock of $500,000.

[12] Superior Candy and Cracker Company occupied the entire annex building from March 1901 to 1915.

[2] The Union Trust Annex was the original home of the Seattle Unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, opening in 1979 after several years of work.