[5] The old city hall building was originally built in 1892 for the former town of New Whatcom.

The original building was designed in a Late Victorian style by Alfred Lee, a local architect, who used red brick and Chuckanut sandstone for its construction.

However, over the years, significant amounts of the waterfront were filled in to make more land.

[11] In 2009, The Whatcom Museum opened a location in the newly designed Lightcatcher building.

The Lightcatcher, designed by Seattle-based Olson Kundig Architects, is named for its 37 feet high and 180 feet long translucent wall, which facilitates a number of energy saving strategies.