MOHAI’s expansive collection of artifacts, images, archival materials, and oral histories totals over 6.5 million items, only a fraction of which are on exhibit at the museum. The collection is a vital resource for both the community and researchers, making MOHAI the preeminent institution for engaging people in the exploration and understanding of Seattle and the Puget Sound region.
Online Collections
Explore highlights from MOHAI’s artifact, archival, and library collections, from airplanes to oral histories, dresses to protest posters, and toys to newspaper photographs.
These collections explore time periods, special collections, and themes from our region’s history, such as transportation, the International District, and the 1962 World’s Fair.
Click the button below to search by keyword or browse collection themes like transportation, the International District, and the 1962 World’s Fair.
Artifact Collection
MOHAI’s artifact collection includes about 100,000 objects from the early 1800s to the present day.
This collection tells significant stories from Seattle and the Puget Sound region, including local businesses and industries, locally designed and invented products, maritime equipment, vehicles, clothing, furniture, fine art, sports and entertainment memorabilia, toys, textiles and more.
Research Library
MOHAI’s Sophie Frye Bass Library preserves and provides access to historic photographs, manuscripts, maps, books, moving images, printed ephemera, and a growing oral history collection.
The Library’s collections cover the history of Seattle metropolitan area, Washington State, and Alaska.
We offer in person or virtual appointments to support public research.
Archives
Archival holdings include business and organization records, personal papers, and other historical documents.
Detailed descriptions of selected collections are hosted by Archives West, a consortium of research institutions across the western United States.
Curator's Fellowship
The Curator's Fellowship invites community and academic historians to bring a new perspective to MOHAI's extensive collections and share their findings at MOHAI's annual Curator's Fellowship Program.
Image Ordering
MOHAI offers high-resolution reproductions of photographs and other materials from our collections. Learn more about our image ordering program.
Donate an Artifact
MOHAI's mission is to preserve the history of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region by collecting, researching, and preserving original cultural artifacts.
The museum accepts artifacts and archival donations on a case-by-case basis, with collections focusing on cultural materials and stories from the 21st, 20th, and 19th centuries.