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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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40 results for: Construction and Urban Planning

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Image of Oil painting on copper of Dr. H. B. Bagley by Harriet Foster Beecher, 1899

Oil painting on copper of Dr. H. B. Bagley by Harriet Foster Beecher, 1899

Dr. Herman Beardsley Bagley (1842-1899), an operative surgery and surgical disease specialist, arrived in Seattle in 1875. In the 1880s, he was part of the Lake Washington Improvement Company and one of several men to first conceive the Lake Washington Ship Canal. H.B. Bagley became quite wealthy through real estate and owned a home at 4th Avenue and Spring Street…
ID Number:1924.709.2
Date:1899
Image of Painting of construction of the White-Henry-Stuart building by Fokko Tadama, 1914

Painting of construction of the White-Henry-Stuart building by Fokko Tadama, 1914

Once located on 4th Avenue and Union Street, the three attached structures of the White-Henry-Stuart building were built from 1908-1915. The building was demolished in 1974 to make way for the Rainier Bank Tower. The artist, Fokko Tadama (1871–1937), was born in India and immigrated to Seattle via New York around 1910. Already an established artist in Europe, Tadama held…
ID Number:1953.299.1
Date:1914
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 Oil portrait of Charles F. Clise by Charles J. Fox, ca. 1957

Oil portrait of Charles F. Clise by Charles J. Fox, ca. 1957

The Clise family have strong roots in Seattle with JW Clise arriving in this area in 1899, one day after the Great Seattle Fire. Clise helped rebuild the city after that devastation and Clise Properties flourished and Charles Clise continued that legacy. The artist signature, CJ (Charles J.) Fox, was an alias for Leo Fox, a New York artist who,…
ID Number:1962.2613
Date:Circa 1957
Image of Painting by Thomas Wells of the Space Needle and surrounding neighborhood during the construction of the Seattle World's Fair, 1962

Painting by Thomas Wells of the Space Needle and surrounding neighborhood during the construction of the Seattle World's Fair, 1962

The artist Thomas Wells (1916 – 2003) was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was a member of the Marine Historical Societies of Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, and New York, and a life member of the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters. The theme of the Seattle World's Fair, Century 21, was inspired by the promise of a new age.…
ID Number:1963.3119.6
Date:1962
Image of Groundbreaking shovel from the Century 21 Seattle World's Fair, 1961

Groundbreaking shovel from the Century 21 Seattle World's Fair, 1961

Construction of the G.E. Pavilion on the Seattle World's Fair campus officially began on November 14, 1961, with this honorary gold metal-plated shovel.
ID Number:1963.3119.71
Date:1961
Image of Locker room door from old Seattle Armory, ca. 1888

Locker room door from old Seattle Armory, ca. 1888

The old Seattle Armory was built in 1888 on Union Street. After the Seattle fire of 1889, the building was used a relief station. The territorial militia companies were quartered here, along with the Regimental Band. It was here that the National Guard companies volunteered to serve in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Each of the quarters had locker rooms…
ID Number:1964.3381.1
Date:Circa 1888
Image of Elgin pocket watch, ca. mid-late 1800s

Elgin pocket watch, ca. mid-late 1800s

This watch belonged to Watson Allen who was born in New Jersey in 1842 and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He settled in Seattle sometime after the war and was elected the King County representative to the first Washington State legislature in 1889. During his life in Seattle, Allen accomplished the following: promoted the development of…
ID Number:1966.3928.1
Date:Circa 1850-1890
Image of Dietz brand police lantern flashlight, ca. 1900

Dietz brand police lantern flashlight, ca. 1900

This police flashlight belonged to Thor Ulstrop (1861-1941) who was born in Norway and came to Seattle in 1889. He worked as a deckhand on a steamer on Puget Sound, and also as a bricklayer, helping to build the White Henry Stuart building in 1913.
ID Number:1973.5679.2
Date:Circa 1900
Image of Oil portrait of Horace W. McCurdy by Charles A. Veteto, ca. 1970

Oil portrait of Horace W. McCurdy by Charles A. Veteto, ca. 1970

Horace W. McCurdy (1899-1989), born in Port Townsend, was a shipbuilder, bridge builder, civic leader, native Washingtonian, and prolific maritime collector. Both the Lake Washington Floating Bridge and the Hood Canal Bridge were built by his firm, Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging. He was instrumental in the establishment and early development of MOHAI and he donated over 500 maritime-related artifacts…
ID Number:1990.19
Date:Circa 1970
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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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