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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U.S. Court House, Custom House and Post Office, Seattle, Washington.
Construction on Seattle's Third Avenue post office (also known as the U.S. Court House, Custom House and Post Office) was began in 1903 and ended in 1908. The building was located at the intersection of Union Street and Third Avenue, which was being regraded at the time. The Third Avenue regrade left a gap of four feet down to the new sidewalk which resulted in a new set of stairs being added to the building's exterior. The building was demolished in 1958.
Identifier: spl_pc_00411
Date: 1908?
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First Hill, ca. 1910
First Hill neighborhood depicting St. James Cathedral at the top of the hill. The photo used as the basis for the card was likely was taken from the top of King Street Station.
Identifier: spl_pc_00302
Date: 1910?
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King Street Station, ca. 1909
During the early 1900s, there was increasing interest in connecting railroads with Seattle. The high demand and competition between railways resulted in two railway stations being built directly next to each other at 4th Avenue and Jackson Street. King Street Station (which is depicted in this postcard) was constructed in 1906 and can be distinguished by its tower. Union Station, originally known as the Oregon and Washington Station, was constructed in 1911. (Alternative names for Union Station include the Union Depot and the Northern Pacific Great Northern Depot.) Confusingly, both stations were sometimes referred to as "union stations" due to the fact that multiple railroad lines were shared within the same terminal. For a good example of the differences between Union Station and King Street Station see spl_pc_01011 where Union Station appears in the foreground and King Street Station appears in the background.
Identifier: spl_pc_01004
Date: 1909?
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St. James Cathedral, November 15, 1909
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_00307
Date: 1909-11-15
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Hotel Lincoln's rooftop garden, ca. 1910
Hotel Lincoln was constructed in 1900 at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Madison Street. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1920.
Identifier: spl_pc_00803
Date: 1910?
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Colman Building, ca. 1907
The Colman Building, located at 811 1st Ave., was constructed by James M. Colman (1832-1906) in 1889 and expanded in 1906. Colman was a leading figure in the development of Seattle who was also responsible for the construction of the Colman dock along the waterfront. In 1972, the Colman Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It also received landmark status from the City of Seattle in 1990.
Identifier: spl_pc_00209
Date: 1907?
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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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King Street Station, ca. 1906
Transcribed from postcard: "The Union Station accommodates more than sixty trains daily, running over rails of eight great railway systems. The tower is 240 feet high." During the early 1900's, there was an increasing press to connect railways with the city of Seattle. The high demand and competition between railways resulted in two railway stations being built directly next to each other at 4th Avenue and Jackson Street. King Street Station (which is depicted in this postcard) was constructed in 1906 and can be distinguished by its tower. Union Station, originally known as the Oregon and Washington Station, was not constructed until 1911. The postcard captioning can be confusing because both stations were sometimes referred to as "union stations" due to the fact that multiple railroad lines were shared within the same terminal. The back of the postcard provides the following description: "The Union Station accommodates more than sixty trains daily, running over the rails of eight great railway systems. The tower is 240 feet high." (Alternative names for Union Station include the Union Depot and the Northern Pacific Great Northern Depot.) For a good example of the differences between Union Station and King Street Station see spl_pc_01011 where Union Station appears in the foreground and King Street Station appears in the background.
Identifier: spl_pc_01001
Date: 1906?
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Olympic Hotel, ca. 1925
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, originally the Olympic Hotel, was built in 1924 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Identifier: spl_pc_00814
Date: 1925?
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Smith Tower, ca. 1915
Transcribed from postcard: "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."
Identifier: spl_pc_00217
Date: 1915?
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