 Its construction was promoted by a citizens committee, then was delayed by fears it would be a white elephant, but eventually politicians endorsed and promoted the project, and it secured a $99,997 WPA grant.Later a $69,983 increase was granted, and the project was also funded by $6,399 from the State of Washington and $14,204 from, perhaps uncharacteristically, the University of Washington.It cost $500,000 to construct the building.