Built in the 1920s, Longview has a small-town atmosphere that is very appealing to residents and visitors alike. Whether you enjoy unique shopping experiences, eating outside at one of the many quaint restaurants, taking in a performance at the Columbia Theater, visiting local exhibits of fine art, or brushing up on your history with the historic walking tour, you’ll find it in downtown Longview.
Use the map quick links below to find information about each numbered area on the map.
Historic Walking Tour of the Civic Center and Downtown Longview
History buffs will also want to visit the historic Civic Circle. The Civic Center is a National Register Historic District and was planned to be the focal point and geographical center of Longview, bringing together governmental and cultural buildings surrounding a central park. You won’t want to miss R.A. Long Park, the four commemorative markers in the civic circle that include a chunk of Plymouth Rock, the historic library building with the Longview Room, the post office, the Monticello Convention Markers, the fragrant library rose garden, the Nutty Narrows Squirrel Bridge and squirrel statue, and the Knowles paintings in the Monticello Hotel lobby.
Longview is a planned city that was conceptualized between 1919 - 1922 when the Long-Bell Lumber Company purchased 14,000 acres of the Columbia River Valley bottom to build a mill site and accompanying town. Long-Bell, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, was rapidly running out of timber to feed its sawmills in Louisiana and Texas, and a new source was needed. A deep-water port near the timber was sought for export. Seventy thousand acres of timber were purchased from the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company in Lewis and Cowlitz Counties, and Longview was conceptualized.
Longview - The Planned City
J.C. Nichols, a planner and close personal friend of Robert A. Long, Long-Bell Chairman, proposed a large-scale city plan that could accommodate 50,000 inhabitants. Mr. Long agreed and appointed Nichols to assemble a planning team. Nichols chose George Kessler, a city planner who was well known for his contributions to Kansas City, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Wichita Falls, Mexico City, and the 1904 St. Louis Exposition. The respected landscape architectural and town planning firm of Hare & Hare was also engaged and drafted the actual plans and plats of the new city.
The City’s design, representative of the City Beautiful movement, designated residential and commercial districts adjacent to but opposite of the Civic Center. Within the heart of the planned residential district was Fowler’s Slough, a marsh that was dredged to create a large, naturalistic park in the Romantic tradition - now known as Lake Sacajawea. The industrial district was platted south of the commercial district nearer the river. Boulevards with esplanades and wide streets were laid in the fashion patterned after Rome and Paris.
Construction began in 1922 and was directed by Samuel Mark Morris, a Long-Bell Director, and Wesley Vandercook, the company’s chief engineer. The town, mill sites and wetlands that regularly flooded had to be diked. Drainage ditches, utilities, and hexagonal concrete streets were laid. By 1927, much of the construction had been completed. The entire Long-Bell investment for the timber, mills, and the city’s utilities and buildings totaled $50 million. Many of R.A. Long’s contributions to Longview actively survive today.
Civic Center
The Civic Center is a National Register Historic District, which was planned to be the focal point and geographical center of Longview, bringing together governmental and cultural buildings surrounding a central park.
1. R. A. Long Park
Originally named Jefferson Square, it was constructed in the winter of 1922 - 1923 concurrently with the Monticello Hotel. Buildings were designed to face the park, giving focus to the central core. A raised terrace to the west contains a bust of R. A. Long, the city’s founder. A sundial is also displayed on the promenade leading from the terrace. Stone historic markers are sited at each comer of the park.
2. The Longview Public Library
This building was a personal gift from R. A. Long, chairman of the new Long-Bell Lumber Company. It represents the importance the founder placed on the city’s cultural and intellectual growth. Finished in 1926 for $150,000, it was the third public building completed, following the Monticello Hotel and the passenger train depot, now demolished. Architect Norman Torbett designed the library in brick with ample terra cotta in a Georgian Revival style. In its park-like setting, the building features arched windows, a balustrade across the front, chimneys at each end of the main wing, and a domed cupola, among other features. Inside, R.A. Long provided $10,000 for books. There were meeting rooms as well as reading rooms. Lower Columbia College, located adjacent to the library, held classes here from 1935 until its campus was completed in 1953. In 1967 parking lots and an extension at the back enlarged the original building.
A rose garden is planted on the Library’s east grounds. On the west grounds is a large wood carved squirrel and nearby, up in the trees and spanning Olympia Way is the “Nutty Narrows” Squirrel Bridge, constructed by Amos Peters who was a local contractor.
3. Monticello Hotel
According to Longview historian John McClelland, “The Monticello Hotel was to Longview what a figurehead is to a sailing ship.” It was the first permanent structure to be completed in Longview and opened in 1923. The hotel was planned so that prospective residents and business people had lodgings in the new town, while they looked for property. The hotel has been a focal point for community and social events over the years. A prestigious Kansas City firm did the preliminary design, with the final work by F.E. McIlvain. The architecture is classically influenced Georgian Revival in style. Set within the frieze of the lobby are a series of oil painting depicting scenes of Northwest settlement.
4. Longview Main Post Office
The Longview Main Post Office is an integral part of the Longview Civic Center. The building is classically influenced, Art Deco in style and faced in red brick and sandstone. Like the other buildings facing the Park, it is compatible in scale, featuring classical aspects of organization, form and elements of entry. The parapet end gables and slate roof of its frontal wing are similar to the library. The interior features a double-height lobby with a barrel-vaulted ceiling, red and black inlaid marble floors, and walnut paneled walls inset with a gold leaf pattern. Constructed as a Depression Era Public Works project, the Post Office was built to aid the local economy during a period of national emergency.
5. Longview City Hall (Non-Historic)
This modem brick building was constructed in 1976 on the same site of the first City Hall, which was Art Deco in style. Within the atrium lobby is a sculptured brass fountain symbolizing the area’s natural environment - rivers and forests, and historical occupation of logging as represented by a hatchet head. The first and second floor lobby walls are lined with a permanent photo exhibit of Longview’s founding. (Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.)
Downtown Longview
Commerce Avenue was planned to be and is today the heart of the Central Business District. Deed restrictions required buildings to be built with mezzanine levels, and be from two stories to a maximum of eight stories in height. Many buildings still retain their architectural and historical character, such as the tile entries. Specialty retail shops, gallerias, restaurants, theaters, business offices, and live evening entertainment combine to create a unique atmosphere for shopping and relaxing.
6. Washington Gas & Electric Building (General Mortgage Building), 1329 Broadway
The building was constructed in 1928 as the regional headquarters building for Washington Gas & Electric Co. and the only structure in Longview entirely covered in terra tiles. The classical treatment of the exterior gives the building the appearance of being a full three stories in height when in fact it is two stories with a full mezzanine level. It is currently undergoing an extensive renovation by its owners. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
7. The Columbia River Mercantile Building (The Merk), 1339 Commerce Avenue
The Columbia River Mercantile Building was the first commercial building to be completed in downtown Longview. It was built by the Long-Bell Company and contained the company’s offices and company store, commonly referred to as the “Merk.” This 70,000 square foot building sits on three lots at the corner of Commerce Avenue and Broadway. The original cost of construction in 1923 was slightly over $195,000. The Bon Marche occupied the building from 1951 until 1987. During this period of time, the building underwent several major modernizations covering the exterior. The current owners have restored the building, returning it to its 1923 style with white terra cotta and mezzanine windows. A variety of retail shops occupy the first floor along with the Long-Bell Room, which contains copies of the Long-Bell Company logs, Longview memorabilia and photos. The mezzanine level is a blend of retail and offices, with more offices located on the top floor. The original walk-in vaults used-by the Long-Bell Company have been preserved. Listed on the Longview Historic Register.
8. Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Building, 1304 Vandercook Way
The Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Building was built in 1928 and is a fine example of the Art Deco style of that period. The brick and terra cotta exterior remains virtually intact with little change to the facade or windows. Notable features include the Art. Deco motif found on the cornice and the band separating the first and second stories. The building was placed on the National Register in 1985.
9. Columbia Theatre, 1231 Vandercook Way
Built in 1925 by a group of Long-Bell Company executives headed by Chief Engineer Wesley Vandercook, the 1000 seat theater featured vaudeville road shows and silent films. Narrowly escaping demolition in 1980, it was purchased by the City of Longview for restoration as a performing arts center. The theater has a striking historic interior that remains intact. The Pepper Theatre, at the north end of the building, was recently developed to provide for a smaller and intimate venue for plays and live performance. A major apartments renovation was done on the upper floors in 1995 for seniors.
10. Willard Building, 1200 - 1210 Broadway
The Willard Building, constructed in 1924 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, is the only intact example of the Georgian Revival influence in the Business District. The building contained the city’s first hospital on the second floor, Longview General Hospital. The hospital later moved to the old train station at the end of Broadway. After the old station was demolished, the Monticello Medical Center was constructed. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
11. Long-Bell Steam Whistle and Interpretive Plaques, 1300 Block Commerce Avenue
The City of Longview designated this as an official historic landmark which displays the original Long-Bell Steam Whistle with four interpretive plaques. The plaques relate the history of the City of Longview, R.A. Long and the Long-Bell Lumber Company, the “Big Ben” Steam Whistle, and the Lumberman’s Bank Pedestal Clock. Historic preservationists and MERK owners, Dr. John and Mary Chilson, salvaged and restored the steam whistle to working condition and also designed the landmark. Listed on the Longview Historic Register.
12. Sevier & Weed Building, 1256-1268 12th Avenue (corner of Hudson & 12th)
This National Register building is one of the few intact Classical Revival style buildings within the central business district. The kick plates, retail display windows, doors and transom windows are original. Financed by J. Sevier and Otis E. Weed within the first two years of Longview’s settlement, it is representative of the building type financed by small private investors during that time period. The ground floor has continued to be used for commercial business with apartments on the second floor. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
13. Pounder Building, 1208 – 1212 Commerce Avenue
The Pounder Building, designed by local architect H. L. Copeland, who also designed the Community Church, was built in 1925. The Tudor Revival style building houses retail businesses on the ground floor and private apartments on the second. Notable are the unmodified window bays on the ground floor with copper edging, the exterior of buff colored brick and terra cotta trim, and the original street-level stairway entrance for the second story apartments. The building survived two successive fires in 1993, and was reconstructed on the interior. Modifications included opening the mezzanine level to the ground floor retail spaces and a complete remodel of the upstairs apartments. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1985.
14. Tyni Building, 1162 - 1166 Commerce Avenue
This building was named, after its builder, J. V. Tyni, who was one of several private investors risking capital in early Longview. The building is currently used as it was originally intended with retail space below and apartments above. Its patterned brickwork especially in the vertical pilasters, and its terra cotta lintels running horizontally across the building’s facade, represent the Classical Revival style popular at the time. Listed on the Longview Historic Register.
15. Hauser Building, 1135 Commerce Avenue
George Hauser built this building in 1924. It has contained many diverse businesses over the years including Maytag Sales & Service, Pepsi Cola Bottling, a confectionary shop, real estate office, and sheet metal shop, to name a few. The original wood frame kick plate was replaced with brick on one side and glass blocks on the other side. The Cadillac Ranch owners are renovating the building maintaining its historic exterior. Listed on the Longview Historic Register.
16. Stratford Building, 1201-1207 Commerce Avenue
Characterized by its quarter arched mezzanine windows, the Stratford Building was constructed in 1926 with retail bays on Commerce and on Hemlock Street, and 20 apartments on the second and third floors. The interior apartments are built around light wells in order to receive sun and ventilation. This building originally had a recessed corner entrance, accessible from both streets. The individual slanted awnings have been replaced with metal canopies, and the original decorative tile kick plates have been replaced with residential brick. Early Longview residents often moved into downtown for convenience to the main shopping district, or while they were searching for permanent housing in its many new neighborhoods. Listed on the Longview Register of Historic Places.
17. Lovell-Groves Building, 1203-1207 14th Avenue
Constructed in 1946 by L.M. Groves to house his Groves Quality Bakery from 1946-52, it had a small double-sided interior freight elevator that transported baking supplies from the basement to the main floor, and still contains an interior auto ramp accessible from the alley to the basement. The building has had many tenants over the years and has been recently remodeled into a restaurant and business office. Listed on the Longview Historic Register.
18. The Schumann Building, 1233 - 1237 Commerce Avenue
Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, the Schumann Building is a fine example of Sullivanesque and Arts & Crafts stylistic influences. The building was designed by H.L Copeland and built by A. G. Schumann in 1926. The Schumann Building is noted for its beautiful cream-colored terra cotta trim along the cornice and a decorative column with “1926” sculpted in it. The quarter-rounded mezzanine transoms are also trimmed in terra cotta molding. Retail stores occupy the main floor, and apartments are located on the top floor. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
19. Mills Building, 1239 Commerce Avenue
This building was financed by James F. Mills and designed in Gothic Revival style by H. L. Copeland who also designed the neighboring attached building, the Schumann Building. It is attached on the second floor with a common hallway running north and south. The two buildings share a central stairway to the second floor, which houses seventeen apartments. Mr. Copeland also designed several other buildings during the early settlement and development years of Longview, including the Pounder Building and the Longview Community Church. The Mills Building was built in 1926 at the same time that the Schumann Building was built. The building is accentuated by decorative terra cotta. It should also be noted that the band of windows on the second floor, although in need of repair, are unchanged and in their original condition. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
20. Commerce Building, 1257 Commerce Avenue
A. E. Alexander built this building for his Department Store in 1924, which was open for many years. The Pet Works owners renovated the building’s exterior in 1991 and mezzanine in 1995.
21. Peasley Building, 1315 - 1325 Commerce Avenue
This building was the site of the Metropolitan Chain Stores on the first floor. By 1931, the upstairs offices acted as Longview City Hall and contained the Mayor’s Office, City Council Chambers, City Treasurer, City Clerk, police, judge, superintendent of buildings, garbage contractor, building contractor, chiropractor, real estate office, insurance office and lawyers. The southern bay contains the original tin ceiling.
22. Big Four Building and Lumberman’s Bank Pedestal Clock, 1329 Commerce Avenue
Built in 1923 as the Lumberman’s Bank, the building was originally in the Georgian style with columns and brick. The freestanding clock located on the sidewalk adjacent to the building was purchased and installed by the bank in 1926. The Big Four Furniture Company transformed the facade to Art Deco in 1934 to erase the bank building’s financial failure after the depression. The building has been recently restored with restaurants on the first floor and antiques on the mezzanine level.
Built in the 1920s, Longview has a small-town atmosphere that is very appealing to residents and visitors alike. Whether you enjoy unique shopping experiences, eating outside at one of the many quaint restaurants, taking in a performance at the Columbia Theater, visiting local exhibits of fine art, or brushing up on your history with the historic walking tour, you’ll find it in downtown Longview.