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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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593 results for: Maritime

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Image of Seattle waterfront near the Canadian Pacific dock, circa 1925
Photograph

Seattle waterfront near the Canadian Pacific dock, circa 1925

Starting in the late 19th century, trade with Asia grew to be an important part of Seattle's economy. By the 1920s the waterfront was crowded with piers, railroad tracks, and warehouses. A roadway had been built to keep the increasing car traffic away from the busy railroad tracks. This photo, taken in the 1920s near the Canadian Pacific dock, shows…
ID Number:1983.10.459
Date:Circa 1925
Image of Port of Seattle grain terminal, Seattle, circa 1927
Photograph

Port of Seattle grain terminal, Seattle, circa 1927

For many years, Seattle has been a major port for the shipment of grain from eastern Washington and other grain-growing states to the east coast and Pacific ports. In 1915, the Port of Seattle built a large grain elevator and storage facility at its Hanford Street Terminal, in the industrial area south of downtown Seattle. The facility was expanded several…
ID Number:1983.10.812
Date:Circa 1927
Image of Woman preparing to christen S.S. West Eldara, Seattle, October 14, 1918
Photograph

Woman preparing to christen S.S. West Eldara, Seattle, October 14, 1918

In 1916, the Skinner & Eddy Corporation opened a shipyard at the foot of Massachusetts Street on the site of the old Moran Brothers yard. Skinner & Eddy built 75 vessels during World War I, becoming Seattle's largest shipyard. The end of the war, in 1918, brought a depression in shipbuilding, and the yard was sold in 1923. Here, a…
ID Number:1983.10.1279.3
Date:1918
Image of General strike participants leaving shipyards, Seattle, February 1919
Photograph

General strike participants leaving shipyards, Seattle, February 1919

The Seattle General Strike was a work stoppage by more than 65,000 workers in Seattle from February 6-11, 1919. The strike began in shipyards when workers were refused pay increases after two years of World War I wage controls. Most of the city's 110 local unions, including members of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Industrial Workers of…
ID Number:1983.10.1347.3
Date:1919
Image of Exterior of Lake Union Dock Co., Seattle, circa 1920
Photograph

Exterior of Lake Union Dock Co., Seattle, circa 1920

This image of Seattle's Lake Union was taken from the west side of the lake, facing north towards Fremont. Prominent in the frame is a large steamship, likely docked for repairs at the Lake Union Dock Company, which was located at 2700 Westlake Avenue N. from at least 1920-1930. There are also several other small boats and houseboats moored here,…
ID Number:1983.10.1948.1
Date:Circa 1920
Image of View of Lake Union from south, Seattle, 1919
Photograph

View of Lake Union from south, Seattle, 1919

In this view of Lake Union, Estep & Kimball's machine shop can be seen just beyond the large fishing vessel APEX. In 1919, the firm of Estep & Kimball sold its machine shop at Fisherman's Terminal and moved to the Lake Union Drydock Company on the eastern shore of Lake Union. The dock is also filled with fishing vessels, and…
ID Number:1983.10.2126
Date:1919
Image of Fishermen's Terminal at Salmon Bay, circa 1918
Photograph

Fishermen's Terminal at Salmon Bay, circa 1918

For many years, commercial fishermen have kept their boats at Fishermen's Terminal, in Salmon Bay, just west of the Ballard Bridge. This sheltered area of the Lake Washington Ship Canal gives easy access to Puget Sound. In this photo, taken in about 1918, fishermen are checking and mending their gill nets. Their fishing boats are tied up along the dock.…
ID Number:1983.10.2159.1
Date:Circa 1918
Image of Surplus warships in Lake Union, circa 1921
Photograph

Surplus warships in Lake Union, circa 1921

Seattle's shipyards boomed during 1918, when the United States entered World War I. After the war, some of the U.S. Navy's surplus wooden warships were stored in Lake Union and other sheltered parts of Puget Sound. This "mothballed" fleet was nicknamed "Wilson's Wood Row," after President Woodrow Wilson, the wartime president.This photo, taken about 1921, shows the surplus wooden warships…
ID Number:1983.10.2261.1
Date:Circa 1921
Image of Wireless operator at the harbor, September 1921
Photograph

Wireless operator at the harbor, September 1921

The Port of Seattle was very busy during the 1920s. The harbor radio station, call letters KPE, was located on Pier 1 at the end of Yesler Way. Ships leaving or entering the harbor radioed their estimated arrival or leaving times and other messages to KPE. This helped the port control ship traffic. This photo shows a wireless radio operator…
ID Number:1983.10.2280.3
Date:1921
Image of The Scandinavian Seamen's Home and Mission Hotel, circa 1922
Photograph

The Scandinavian Seamen's Home and Mission Hotel, circa 1922

Sometimes sailors found themselves in Seattle without a place to stay between voyages. Others were too old or too sick to continue work. In the 1920s, organizations which helped them included the Scandinavian Seaman's Home and the Mission Hotel, managed by Reverend E.B. Slettedahl.This photo, taken in about 1922, shows the seamen's home and hotel building on Marion Street, convenient…
ID Number:1983.10.2327
Date:Circa 1922
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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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