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Architectural drawing
Bon Marché Christmas star revised design drawing, Seattle, July 17, 1957
Order an ImageEdward and Josephine Nordhoff opened Seattle’s Bon Marché in 1890. The department store moved and expanded over the years, and by 1929, it occupied an art-deco building on a full city block in downtown Seattle.
Sometime around 1953, Bob James of the Bon Marché Display Department designed a Christmas tree and star in lights for the diagonal corner of the building, at Fourth Avenue and Pine Street. By 1957, the tree had vanished, and the star had taken over the design. As of 2025, the star continues to be displayed.
In this 1957 revised design, the center star was to be white enamel or stainless steel, with smaller bulbs radiating out from a large central bulb.This design also includes three angels. The star is to measure 60 feet across by 161 feet tall and extend 45 feet above the top of the building. These are the final approved measurements.
Caption information source: The Seattle Times website: November 14, 2007; November 25, 2015.
Sometime around 1953, Bob James of the Bon Marché Display Department designed a Christmas tree and star in lights for the diagonal corner of the building, at Fourth Avenue and Pine Street. By 1957, the tree had vanished, and the star had taken over the design. As of 2025, the star continues to be displayed.
In this 1957 revised design, the center star was to be white enamel or stainless steel, with smaller bulbs radiating out from a large central bulb.This design also includes three angels. The star is to measure 60 feet across by 161 feet tall and extend 45 feet above the top of the building. These are the final approved measurements.
Caption information source: The Seattle Times website: November 14, 2007; November 25, 2015.
ID Number: 2009.20.78.3
Date: 1957
Creator(s):
James, Robert, Creator
Physical Description: 1 architectural drawing : color ; 18.75 x 24 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. View the finding aid for this collection at https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv44656
Credit: MOHAI, Bon Marché Collection, 2009.20.78.3
Copyright: All Rights Reserved