A Brief History of the Old Boeing Airplane Factory
By Curt Cunningham

Boeing Plant #1 which is known as "The Red Barn" was the second Boeing airplane production facility, home of the Boeing Corporation between 1917 and 1929. Boeing Plant #1 was responsible for the assembly and production of the early Boeing airplane models until the completion of Boeing Plant #2 in 1936.

By the 1950s, Boeing Plant #1 consisted of more than 20 buildings. The old Red Barn was made obsolete by the larger airplanes which began to be produced in the 1930s, and was used primarily as a forging plant and testing facility, as well as a producer of component parts. 

In 1975 the Red barn was moved to its current location at the future site of the Museum of Flight. The Museum of Flight is located where the old 1913 Pacific Highway crosses over the 1920 Pacific Highway which is now known as E. Marginal Way. The original location of Boeing Plant #1 and the Red Barn was on the west side of the Duwamish just south of Terminal 115 at 200 SW Michigan Street, in Seattle. This is about 2 miles down stream from the Museum of Flight.

Only two structures remain from the original Boeing Plant #1. One is the "Red Barn," and the other building is the 1929 administration building, which is located at its original location.