Seattle Historic Postcard Collection
Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. Highlights of early 20th century Seattle, as depicted through our historic postcards. Cards include images of buildings, attractions and events from the 1900s to the 1960s along with messages between friends and family.
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Welsh Presbyterian Church, July 19, 1907
Transcribed from postcard: "Welsh Presbyterian Church-10th Ave. N. and John St., Seattle, Wash., J. Michael Hughes, Pastor." The first Seattle Welsh Presbyterian Church was originally built in 1893 on Olive Way. As the congregation expanded, they needed a larger space and soon built a new structure in 1907 at 10th Ave. N. and E. John Street. The postcard includes a photograph of J. Michael Hughes who served as the church's pastor between 1891-1894 and 1905-1912.
Identifier: spl_pc_00324
Date: 1907-07-19
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Smith Tower, Court House and City Hall, ca. 1950
Transcribed from postcard: "Smith Tower, Court House and City Hall, Seattle, Washington, in down-town Seattle. From the observation platform in Smith Tower, a 42-story building, one may enjoy an excellent view of the city and surrounding country."
Identifier: spl_pc_00210
Date: 1950?
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Olympic Hotel, ca. 1930
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, originally the Olympic Hotel, was built in 1924. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Identifier: spl_pc_00809
Date: 1930?
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St. James Cathedral, ca. 1910
Bishop Edward O'Dea purchased the land for St. James Cathedral's First Hill site in 1903 after successfully petitioning the Pope to relocate the episcopal see from Vancouver, Washington to Seattle. The cornerstone for the building was laid in 1905 with more than 5,000 people in attendance and the cathedral officially opened on December 15, 1907.
Identifier: spl_pc_00308
Date: 1910?
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Union Station, ca. 1911
Transcribed from postcard: "New Oregon-Washington Depot. This new depot is 145 x 185 ft. and cost, with its switching yards, $1,000,000 for construction. It is the most northern "out post" of the Harriman system of 13,000 miles of railroads, the greatest in the world."
Identifier: spl_pc_01012
Date: 1911?
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Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, ca. 1965
Transcribed from postcard: "Interior icons on gold-leaf were executed in 13th century Byzantine Style on Mount Athos, the Holy Mountain of Orthodoxy."
Identifier: spl_pc_00305
Date: 1965?
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Frye Hotel, December 5, 1917
Transcribed from postcard: "When in Seattle, Try the Frye, Hotel Frye, Opposite 42 story L.C. Smith Bldg." The Frye Hotel (also known as Hotel Frye) was constructed in 1911 and designed by the architects Charles H. Bebb and Louis L. Mendel. The project was funded by Seattle pioneer George F. Frye and his wife Louisa Frye (originally of the Denny family). The hotel was converted to low income housing in the 1970s.
Identifier: spl_pc_00812
Date: 1917-12-05
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14th Ave. N. looking north to Volunteer Park water tower, ca. 1913
The home at the far right is located at 720 14th Ave. E. The home in the distance with the cupola is 806 14th Ave. E. The Volunteer Park water tower can be seen in the distance.
Identifier: spl_pc_00607
Date: 1913?
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King County Courthouse, ca, 1905
View of the second King County Courthouse, built in 1890 and torn down in the 1930s, which was located at 7th Ave. and Alder St.. A new King County Courthouse was constructed in 1917 on 3rd Ave. in order to be closer to the business district.
Identifier: spl_pc_00400
Date: 1905?
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Unidentified residential street, April 7, 1911
Image of unknown residential street and houses. Similar postcards from this time period depict Capitol Hill homes.
Identifier: spl_pc_00603
Date: 1911-04-07
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