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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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26 results for: Railroads

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Image of Three leaded, stained glass windows from first Milwaukee train to Seattle, ca. 1911

Three leaded, stained glass windows from first Milwaukee train to Seattle, ca. 1911

The Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Railway (CM&SP) extended service to the Tacoma/Seattle area starting in 1911, providing a faster form of transportation from the Midwest to the Puget Sound.
ID Number:1951.427.11
Date:Circa 1911
Image of Ship's wheel, SS Milwaukee, 1913

Ship's wheel, SS Milwaukee, 1913

The SS Milwaukee, built by Seattle Construction and Dry Dock in 1913, was the last steam tug on Puget Sound. It was used by the Milwaukee Terminus Railway Company to tranship freight from rail to deep sea steamships.
ID Number:1954.559
Date:1913
Image of Pan from the Great Seattle Fire of 1889

Pan from the Great Seattle Fire of 1889

This pan, rescued from Seattle's 1889 fire, features a painting by J.H. Barnes that depicts the railroad depot on Columbia Street.
ID Number:1955.898
Date:Circa 1889
Image of Northern Pacific Railway lantern, ca. 1890s

Northern Pacific Railway lantern, ca. 1890s

The Northern Pacific Railway (NP), completed in 1883, had about 6,800 miles of track that stretched across the northern section of the western US, from Minnesota to the Pacific Northwest. The NP eventually merged with other lines to form the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1970, and then became the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway in 1996.
ID Number:1957.1183.2
Date:Circa 1890
Image of Oil portrait of John Leary, ca. 1900

Oil portrait of John Leary, ca. 1900

John Leary (1837-1905) was involved with virtually every major civic and commercial undertaking in Seattle in the 1870s and 1880s, including a law practice, real estate, railroads, banking, and publishing. In 1884, he was elected Mayor of the City of Seattle. Herbert Gobble "Harry" Shriner (1871-1941) studied art in Paris in 1891 and later worked in California. He was known…
ID Number:1957.1284.3
Date:Circa 1900
Image of Badge from the International Association of Machinists, ca. 1920

Badge from the International Association of Machinists, ca. 1920

This badge from the International Association of Machinists belonged to Martin L. Stadum. He was a machinist for the Great Northern Railway. He moved first to Everett in 1910 and then Seattle in 1928.
ID Number:1963.2910.8
Date:Circa 1920
Image of Train schedule chalkboard for Northern Pacific Railway Company, ca. 1890-1930

Train schedule chalkboard for Northern Pacific Railway Company, ca. 1890-1930

This train schedule chalkboard was posted in the Northern Pacific Railway Company station in Elma.
ID Number:1965.3695.3
Date:Circa 1890-1930
Image of Cigar advertising the Northern Pacific Railroad, ca. 1912

Cigar advertising the Northern Pacific Railroad, ca. 1912

Items like these were used in advertising promotions around the turn of the century. This particular cigar was packaged for distribution on the Northern Pacific Railroad.
ID Number:1967.4102.48a
Date:Circa 1912
Image of Blacksmithing anvil, ca. 1900

Blacksmithing anvil, ca. 1900

This anvil belonged to O. Fred Felton (1876-1966), born in Kentucky and moved to Seattle in 1923. He worked for the Great Northern Railroad and may have used this anvil for blacksmithing.
ID Number:1967.4146.2
Date:Circa 1900
Image of Railroad lantern, ca. 1895

Railroad lantern, ca. 1895

This railroad lantern belonged to Herman Dehnhoff (1862-1935) who was born in Germany and arrived in Snohomish in 1890 to work on the Northern Pacific Railroad. The lantern is from the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, often abbreviated as C.M. & St.P. Ry.
ID Number:1975.6182
Date:Circa 1895
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