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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Perry Hotel, ca. 1910
Located at Madison Street and Boren Avenue, the Perry Hotel, also known as the Perry Apartments, was built in 1907. In 1916, the building was renovated to become the Columbus Sanitarium and renamed once again to Cabrini Hospital in the 1960s. The building was demolished in 1996.
Identifier: spl_pc_00818
Date: 1910?
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14th Ave. homes on Capitol Hill, ca. 1910
The Moore Mansion, located at 811 14th Ave E, appears at the far left of the postcard. The 1903 home was built and owned by James A. Moore who developed much of the Capitol Hill neighborhood with through his business, Moore Investment Company.
Identifier: spl_pc_00604
Date: 1910?
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White and Henry Buildings., ca. 1915
Located at 1318 4th Avenue, the White-Henry-Stuart Building actually consists of three buildings constructed by the Howells and Stokes architecture firm during the period between 1908 and 1915. It was part of the Metropolitan Tract plan which provided office and retail space for the downtown area in the space formerly occupied by the University of Washington's downtown campus. The building was torn down in 1974 to make way for the Rainier Square complex.
Identifier: spl_pc_00221
Date: 1915?
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New Hotel Washington, ca. 1909
Transcribed from postcard: "The New Washington is Seattle's largest fashionable hotel, the finest in the Northwest. It is, however, but one of many of the elegant hosteleries [sic] in the City."
Identifier: spl_pc_00824
Date: 1909?
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View east from James St. and Yesler Way, ca. 1915
Transcribed from postcard: "Looking up James Street at the left. Yesler Way at the right from Pioneer Square. Showing the 42 Story L.C. Smith Building Seattle, U.S.A." The Seattle Hotel, which appears in the center of the image, was constructed in 1890. It replaced the Occidental Hotel which burned down in the fire of 1889. In 1891, the building served as home to the Seattle Public Library and was converted into an office building in the early 1900's. By 1961, the building was abandoned and later torn down and replaced with a parking garage. This instigated a historic preservation movement in the Pioneer Square area to preserve other historic buildings before they could be demolished. The Smith Tower, which appears in the background, was constructed in 1914 by the architecture firm Gaggin and Gaggin. It was the tallest building in Seattle until the construction of the Space Needle in 1962.
Identifier: spl_pc_00213
Date: 1915?
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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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Alaska Building, ca. 1905
The Alaska Building, constructed between 1903 and 1904, was the first building in Seattle to be built with a steel frame. At 14 stories high, it was the tallest building in Seattle until the construction of the Hoge Building in 1911.
Identifier: spl_pc_00226
Date: 1905?
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Smith Tower, ca. 1914
Transcribed from postcard: "The New L.C. Smith building, Seattle. 42 stories high, now being erected at the Corner of Second Avenue and Yesler Way. Second Ave and the 42 Story L.C. Smith Bldg. Seattle. U.S.A. Eight elevators-two serving the tower. Six hundred Offices. Six stores. Telegraph office on first Floor. Barber Shop, Restaurant, Buffet in Basement, Thirty-fifth Floor furnished in Washington Fir used as an observatory. Exterior, Washington Granite for first two floors; above white glazed terra cotta. Cost: $1,500,000."
Identifier: spl_pc_00202
Date: 1914?
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Seattle Mail and Herald, v. 5, no. 1, Nov. 16, 1901
Page 4 articles dicusses the trial of John and Tom Considine for the murder of former police chief William L. Meredith.
Identifier: spl_mh_198239_1901_05_01
Date: 1901-11-16
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ZigZag troupe and Kathy Hansen [not pictured] on trail to Deer Lake, Olympic National Park, September 1967
Trail to Deer Lake-Olympic Park, with ZigZag troupe and Kathy Hansen
Identifier:
Date: 1967-09
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