Mount Baker Theatre in downtown Bellingham is closed for the summer, and when it reopens this fall, audiences will find a noticeably different experience waiting for them. The historic venue is in the middle of its most significant interior renovation in decades, all timed to launch its 100th season in style.
1,517 New Seats -- With Cup Holders
The centerpiece of the renovation is the replacement of all 1,517 seats in the Main Auditorium. The current seats were purchased secondhand in 1993, meaning they had already been used extensively before the theater acquired them. Despite regular maintenance, reupholstering, and what staff called "annual squeaky seat patrols," replacement parts for the aging chairs are no longer manufactured or available.
The new seats were purchased new through Irwin Seating Co., a company that specializes in seating for large auditoriums, concert halls, and performing arts centers. Marketing Director Lorin O'Grady said the new chairs are an upgrade in terms of both accessibility and comfort -- and they come with cup holders, a first for the Main Auditorium.
"We looked at probably three to four different seat options that we tested among our staff and our board," O'Grady said. "We did want something that resembled and worked with the overall vibe and aesthetics of the Mount Baker Theater. You walk in, and it's such a transformative experience." Installation of the new seats is expected to continue over the coming months ahead of the fall reopening.
The selection process for the new seating was more involved than simply ordering from a catalog. Theater staff and board members physically tested multiple models, evaluating how each option felt during a full-length performance and whether the design complemented the Spanish Revival interior. For a venue as visually distinctive as Mount Baker Theatre, where the ornate plasterwork, vaulted ceiling, and hand-painted details create an atmosphere unlike almost any other performance space in the Pacific Northwest, the wrong seat could undercut the room's character. The team ultimately landed on a chair that honors the aesthetic while delivering the comfort and accessibility improvements that modern audiences expect. The addition of cup holders, while it may seem like a small detail, reflects a broader shift in performing arts venue design toward amenities that make the experience more relaxed and welcoming for a wider range of patrons.
What Else Is Being Upgraded
The seat replacement is just one item on a long renovation checklist. Crews are also performing maintenance on the original wood and marble on MBT's iconic street-level ticket kiosk, updating internal systems including fans and lighting technology, refreshing paint in both the lobby and auditorium, replacing carpeting throughout, upgrading chandelier winches, and restoring the theater's famous Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ.
The Mighty Wurlitzer, which dates to the theater's original 1927 opening, has long been one of the most beloved features of the Mount Baker Theatre experience. The instrument is rare in that it remains in a functioning historic venue; many theater organs of its era were removed or destroyed as movie palaces converted to other uses during the mid-twentieth century decline of the grand cinema. The Wurlitzer was originally installed to accompany silent films, providing live music during an era before synchronized sound became standard. Today it is used for special performances and pre-show entertainment, and its restoration as part of the centennial preparation signals the theater's commitment to honoring its history even as it modernizes.
The chandelier winch upgrades are a less glamorous but equally important part of the project. The theater's chandeliers are large, ornate fixtures that require periodic lowering for cleaning and maintenance. Aging winch mechanisms can pose both safety and operational challenges in a building of this age. Replacing them as part of this renovation cycle ensures the theater can continue to maintain its signature lighting fixtures safely for years to come. Similarly, the carpeting replacement throughout the building addresses both aesthetics and acoustics, since worn flooring affects how sound travels through lobby and corridor spaces.
O'Grady captured the sense of occasion: "I feel like we're writing history right now," he said. "We're doing so much that in 50 years from now, [audiences] are gonna be like: 'I remember when those seats came in, and they got cup holders.'"
A Century of Performance in Bellingham
Mount Baker Theatre opened in 1927 on West Holly Street in downtown Bellingham, making it one of the oldest continually operating performing arts venues in Washington State. The theater was built in the Spanish Revival style and features ornate plasterwork, a dramatic vaulted ceiling, and the distinctive exterior marquee that has been a landmark on Holly Street for nearly a century.
Over its history, the theater has hosted traveling Broadway productions, major musical acts, comedy performances, film screenings, and community events. It serves as one of the anchors of Bellingham's downtown arts and culture scene and draws audiences from across Whatcom County and beyond.
The 100th season marks a genuine milestone. The theater has survived the transition away from vaudeville and silent films, the decline of the movie palace era, economic downturns, and the challenges of operating a century-old building with modern performance demands. That longevity is not accidental. Mount Baker Theatre has benefited from sustained community investment and a donor base that recognizes the building as irreplaceable. The current renovation represents a significant financial commitment, and it builds on previous capital campaigns that have kept the structure sound and the technical systems functional. Not every city of Bellingham's size retains a venue of this caliber, and the centennial is an opportunity to reflect on how much it matters to the cultural identity of the region.
When to Expect the Reopening
Mount Baker Theatre is expected to reopen in September 2026 once renovation work is complete. The theater has not yet announced its full centennial season calendar, but performances are expected to resume in the fall. Anyone interested in season tickets, event announcements, or volunteer opportunities can find the latest information on the theater's website.
For Bellingham arts patrons who have been looking forward to the reopening, it is worth checking in regularly as the fall schedule is finalized. The centennial season is expected to include special programming that marks the occasion. For more on live arts and music in Whatcom County this summer while the theater is closed, earlier coverage of local music events has details on what is happening around town.
