Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. More than 2,000 images reveal Seattle’s evolution. Early photos capture Seattle’s pioneers, the Great Fire of 1889 and the Denny Regrade along with historical buildings, streets and landmarks.
West Seattle Branch Children's Room, Seattle Public Library, ca. 1910
Transcribed from photograph: "West Seattle Branch. Children's Room. 42nd Ave. S. W. and West College St. Built 1910. Interior."
Identifier: spl_shp_15289
Date: 1910
View this itemNorthgate Shopping Center, 1952
Transcribed from photograph: "Shopping Centers. Northgate. Airplane view looking toward west. 1950. Photo 1952. John Graham & Co., architects."
Identifier: spl_shp_20783
Date: 1952
View this itemView south from 5th Ave. and Pine St., 1887
Transcribed from photograph: "Views. From Fifth Avenue and Pine Street. Looking South. 1887. 1. Coppin's water works. 2. Sixth Street School. 3. Providence hospital. 4. Territorial University."
Identifier: spl_shp_5170
Date: 1887
View this itemJoshua Green, 1968
Transcribed from photograph: "Portraits. Green, Joshua, 1869-1975. Born October 16, 1869. Drawing by Stuart Moldrem."
Identifier: spl_shp_22373
Date: 1968
View this itemJames A. Wehn with Judson Toll Jennings plaque, ca. 1949
Transcribed from photograph: "Portraits. Jennings, Judson Toll. Librarian. Seattle Public Library. 1907-1942."
Identifier: spl_shp_35021
Date: 1949?
View this itemAgricultural Building at the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, 1909
Transcribed from photograph: "Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition. 1909. Agricultural building. Graham & Meyers, architects. Olmsted & Dawson, landscape architects."
Identifier: spl_shp_11986
Date: 1909
View this itemClass of South School, ca. 1890
Transcribed from front of photograph: "Seattle Portraits. Group. Class of South School. 3rd grade. Miss Hamlin, teacher. 1889-1890." Transcribed from back of photo: “THIRD GRADE-1889-90-Foto From Zoe (Stetson) Renninger. Miss Hamlin Teacher 1 Bess Laurimore 2 Rachel Garfinkle 3 Lizzie Jones 4 Bertha Dishon 5 Henry Hanke 6 Eddie Boyle 7 Hallie Philbrick 8 Jack Griffin 9 [unnamed] 10 Hayes Wakefield 11 Lou Singerman 12 [unnamed] 13 [unnamed] 14 [unnamed] 15 [unnamed] 16 [unnamed] 17 [unnamed] 18 [unnamed] 19 Walter Hilton 20 [unnamed] 21 [unnamed] 22 Walter Cure 23 Charles Hoege 24 Fritz [blank] 25 [unnamed] 26 Miss Hamlin 27 [unnamed] 28 Bert Ehle 29 [unnamed] 30 [unnamed] 31 [blank] Evans 32 [unnamed] 33 Elias Nelson 34 Peter [blank] 35 Willie McDonald 36 [unnamed] 37 Clara Monasmith 38 Elsie Bruns 39 Irene Lesser 40 [unnamed] 41 [unnamed] 42 Sarah Howard 43 Leila Baldwin 44 [unnamed] 45 [unnamed] 46 Zoe Stetson 47 Irma Ranke 48 Blanche [blank] 49 Nellie Houtz 50 Jessie Roberts 51 Osco Cure 52 Jennie Severence 53 Gertie Stevens 54 [unnamed]
Identifier: spl_shp_22760
Date: 1890
View this itemThomas Jefferson Humes, ca. 1900
Transcribed from photograph: "Portraits. Humes, Thomas Jefferson. 1849-1904. Mayor 1897-1904."
Identifier: spl_shp_14994
Date: 1900?
View this itemCabin of "Green Lake John," ca. 1870
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle Houses. "Green Lake John." Ca. 1870. Exterior. Log cabin. Three-quarter view from front and left side."
Identifier: spl_shp_22958
Date: 1870?
View this itemView SW from 32nd Ave., 1898
Transcribed from photograph: "Streets. Thirty-second Avenue. South. 1898."
Identifier: spl_shp_5163
Date: 1898
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