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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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18 results for: Homes and Housing

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Image of Painting of a shack and boats by Jessie M. Elliott, 1895

Painting of a shack and boats by Jessie M. Elliott, 1895

Jessie M. Elliott (1861-1950) was born in Merrimack, Wisconsin, and moved to Seattle in the late 1880s to open an art school. In addition to oil, Elliott worked in charcoal, metal, and enamels. She belonged to the Women Painters of Washington, a group founded in 1930 for fellowship, artistic stimulation, and the promotion of their members' work. Elliott was a…
ID Number:1947.437.7
Date:1895
Image of Shingle from Denny cabin, ca. 1851

Shingle from Denny cabin, ca. 1851

In 1851, Arthur Denny, at the age of 29, led a contingent of his family west from Illinois to the Pacific Northwest, where he helped found the city of Seattle. This shingle, donated by a descendent of those early settlers,was part of the original cabin built by the Dennys when they first arrived on what was later called Alki.
ID Number:1952.986.8
Date:Circa 1851
Image of Split cedar shingle and pieces of bark from the Denny House on Alki, 1851

Split cedar shingle and pieces of bark from the Denny House on Alki, 1851

In 1851, Arthur Denny, at the age of 29, led a contingent of his family west from Illinois to the Pacific Northwest, where he helped found the city of Seattle. This shingle, donated by a descendent of those early settlers, was a part of the original cabin built by the Dennys when they first arrived on what was later called…
ID Number:1953.651.1
Date:1851
Image of Painting of Smith's Cove and Dr. Henry Smith's house by Emily Inez Denny, 1870-1880

Painting of Smith's Cove and Dr. Henry Smith's house by Emily Inez Denny, 1870-1880

This painting depicts the home of Dr. Henry A. Smith, who had come west by wagon in 1851. He was a physician who used his skills on the wagon train trip from the Midwest, in Seattle and in Snohomish, where he cared for Native Americans as he developed tidal land there. He was involved in Seattle politics, served as chair…
ID Number:1955.878.3
Date:1870-1880
Image of Poster,

Poster, "Put a House on that vacant lot", ca. 1920-1930s

This poster is promoting the development of homes in Seattle during the 1920s-1930s.
ID Number:1956.1124.2
Date:Circa 1920-1930
Image of Wooden door from Denny cabin at Alki Point, 1851

Wooden door from Denny cabin at Alki Point, 1851

On September 12, 1851, John Low and David Denny arrived on Alki Point ahead of the rest of the early settler Denny party, and began to build a cabin to house the incoming group. The rest of the party arrived form Portland on November 13, 1851, on the schooner EXACT. This door is believed to be from that first cabin…
ID Number:1962.2728.15
Date:1851
Image of Painting of a cabin in the woods by Emily Inez Denny, ca. 1870-1915

Painting of a cabin in the woods by Emily Inez Denny, ca. 1870-1915

The daughter of one of Seattle’s founding families, Emily Inez Denny (1853 – 1918) was both a painter and writer. Greatly influenced by seeing the drawings of Sarah Willoughby as a student at the Washington Territorial University, she took on painting as a life-long pursuit. Emily’s father, David Denny, supported her artistic aspirations and frequently brought home printing paper from…
ID Number:1967.4326.13
Date:Circa 1870-1915
Image of Oil painting,

Oil painting, "The Denny Farmhouse in the Swale," by Emily Inez Denny, 1906

The daughter of one of Seattle’s founding families, Emily Inez Denny (1853 – 1918) was both a painter and writer. Greatly influenced by seeing the drawings of Sarah Willoughby as a student at the Washington Territorial University, she took on painting as a life-long pursuit. Emily's parents, David Denny and Louisa Boren married in 1853 in Seattle and lived in…
ID Number:1968.4387.1
Date:1906
Image of Grandfather's or tall case clock, ca. 1880

Grandfather's or tall case clock, ca. 1880

This tall case clock was brought to Seattle by Otto Ranke, a German immigrant buckmason and plasterer, who built his home on the corner of Terry and Madison Avenues in 1891. Moritz Thomsen, Seattle builder and founder of Centennial Mill Company among other ventures, bought Ranke's house along with the clock in 1901.
ID Number:1970.4974.5
Date:Circa 1880
Image of Pencil drawing,

Pencil drawing, "The New Cabin Home," by Emily Inez Denny, ca. 1870-1915

The daughter of one of Seattle’s founding families, Emily Inez Denny (1853 – 1918) was both a painter and writer. Greatly influenced by seeing the drawings of Sarah Willoughby as a student at the Washington Territorial University, she took on painting as a life-long pursuit. A woman who thrived on the creation of art, Emily constantly traveled with a notebook…
ID Number:1984.74.2
Date:Circa 1870-1915
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MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109
Phone: 206 324 1126
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