Rainier Brewery : Landmark of our Industrial History

Abstract

The Rainier Brewery has been a Seattle institution for over a hundred years. As a keystone of Seattle’s pre-Prohibition Brewing Industry and home of Emil Sick’s Rainier Beer, the Rainier Brewery complex at 3100 Airport Way has been a longstanding and beloved Seattle icon, as well as an important piece of the larger patterns of brewing history. In spite of recent modifications, the property retains many original architectural details and, as a working site until the 1990’s, provides a unique insight into the evolution of the brewing industry over the last hundred years. Because of this important role in history, the Rainier Brewery deserves status as a Registered Washington Heritage Register Landmark, although it is questionable if it would qualify due to issues of historic context and integrity. This sample nomination is meant to serve as a history of the site and a foundation for future preservation or nomination efforts.