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.
Ruins at 2nd Ave. and Columbia St. following the Great Fire, June 1889
Fire. Ruins. Front Street. Looking West from Second Avenue and Columbia Street from the Boston Block.
Identifier: spl_shp_5049
Date: 1889
View this itemLake City Branch, Seattle Public Library, ca. 1966
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle Public Library. Branches. Lake City branch. 12501 - 28th N. E. Built 1966. Bronze gates designed by George Tsutakawa. View from the inside taken from the right. Photo by John Morse. John Morse, architect."
Identifier: spl_shp_21871
Date: 1966?
View this itemOutlet of Union Bay, 1893
Transcribed from photograph: "Lake Washington. Outlet of Union Bay. 1893."
Identifier: spl_shp_14157
Date: 1893
View this itemGrade 5 of South School, 1890
Transcribed from front of photograph: "Seattle Portraits. Group. Class of South School. Grade 5. (Mary Hyde, teacher) 1890." Transcribed from back of photograph: “Foto furnished by “Jack” McEachern- Mary Hyde's 5th Grade Class, 1890- Frank Monohan 2-Neatya Mears 3-Rose Christensen 4- Unnamed 5-Florence Dundan 6-Arthur Kreiswell 7-Susie Gardner 8-Sadie Sickels 9-Unnamed 10-Mary Hyde-Teacher 11-Florence Smart 12- Emily Taylor 13-Unnamed 14-Becky Schoenfeld 15-Effie Bird 16-Rhoda Elliot 17-Nellie Hinsling 18-Emma Mears 19-Laura Latimer 20-Amos Zeek 21-George Albin 22-Unnamed 23 Henry Hoege 24-Unnamed 25-Unnamed 26-Jacob Cook 27-[blank] Schmidt 28-Frank Smith 29-Frank Smith 30-Frank Monohan 31-Nancy Fitzhenry 32-John McEachern 33-John Compton 34-[blank] Cox 35-Tom Copp 36-Will Taylor 37-Jennie [blank] 38-Stella Feas 39-Ethel Stevens 40-Anna Boyd 41-Elma Hamisphere 42-Flossie Nelson 43-Rose Finnegan 44-Jennie Davis 45-Laura Guy 46-Cora Stevens 47-Vinna Kelly 48-Isadore Singerman 50-Ben Bloom 51-Hiram Good”
Identifier: spl_shp_22840
Date: 1890
View this itemDr. Maynard House at 3045 64th Ave SW, ca. 1950
Transcribed from photograph: "Houses. Maynard, Dr. Originally stood near the old Stockade Hotel, now located at 3045 64th S.W. Oldest house in Seattle. Build 1855. Moved in 1922."
Identifier: spl_shp_19575
Date: 1950?
View this itemView north from Pine St., 1885
Transcribed from photograph: "Views. From Pine St. Vicinity. About 1885. Looking North to Lake Union."
Identifier: spl_shp_5181
Date: 1885
View this itemPacific Science Center arches, ca. 1962
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle. Seattle Center. Science Center. Arches, fountains and pool. Architects: Yamasaki Minoru, and associates; Naramore, Bain, Brady & Johanson."
Identifier: spl_shp_21657
Date: 1962?
View this itemKing County Central Blood Bank, 1947
Transcribed from photograph: "Buildings. King County central blood bank. Exterior. 1947. St. James Towers in background. Modern. Naramore, Bain, Brady & Johanson, and Joseph Wohleb, architects."
Identifier: spl_shp_20013
Date: 1947
View this itemView from 2nd Ave. and Pike St., 1870
Transcribed from photograph: "Views. From Second Avenue and Pike Street. 1870. 1. A. A. Denny house. 2. Yesler's mill and wharf. 3. Front Street. 4. Union Street."
Identifier: spl_shp_5099
Date: 1870
View this itemSeattle drill team no. 1, A.O.U.W., 1902
Transcribed from photograph: "Ancient Order of United Workmen. (A.O.U.W.) Seattle drill team no. 1, A.O.U.W. 1902. Photo by LaRoche."
Identifier: spl_shp_22421
Date: 1902
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