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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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204 results for: Railroads

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Image of Construction of Great Northern Railway's Ballard Bridge, circa 1913
Photograph

Construction of Great Northern Railway's Ballard Bridge, circa 1913

The Great Northern Railway built a new railway bridge at Ballard in about 1913, during the construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. This bridge is still in use in the 2020s, and is known as the Salmon Bay Bridge. The span stays open for canal traffic unless a train is coming.This photo shows the Great Northern Railway bridge during…
ID Number:1983.10.9734.1
Date:Circa 1913
Image of Trains in railroad yard, Seattle, circa 1915
Photograph

Trains in railroad yard, Seattle, circa 1915

Handwritten on sleeve: Shriners Train.Webster & Stevens number: 44640
ID Number:1983.10.10106
Date:Circa 1915
Image of Colman Dock, Seattle, 1915
Photograph

Colman Dock, Seattle, 1915

Before regular ferry service, hundreds of small steamers competed to carry people and freight around Puget Sound. There were so many of these vessels making short runs between so many towns and islands, that they were called the Mosquito Fleet. Some people limit the term Mosquito Fleet to the many small wooden steamers on the sound, while others include larger…
ID Number:1983.10.10135
Date:1915
Image of Exterior of Oregon-Washington Station, Seattle, 1916
Photograph

Exterior of Oregon-Washington Station, Seattle, 1916

The Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company was formed from several smaller companies in 1896. The Union Pacific Railroad bought a majority stake in the company in 1898 and built its Beaux-Arts style main depot, the Oregon-Washington Station, in Seattle in 1910-1911. The station’s name was later changed to Union Station. Passenger rail service continued at the station until 1971. After…
ID Number:1983.10.10305
Date:1916
Image of Northern Pacific Railroad bridge, Seattle, circa 1917
Photograph

Northern Pacific Railroad bridge, Seattle, circa 1917

This bridge was used by the Northern Pacific railroad to cross the Lake Washington Ship Canal between Fremont and Ballard. Handwritten on sleeve: Bascule Bridge, Lake Wash. canal.Webster & Stevens number: 54405
ID Number:1983.10.10425
Date:Circa 1917
Image of Andy Gump visiting Seattle, June 1926
Photograph

Andy Gump visiting Seattle, June 1926

The Gumps was an extremely popular comic strip about a middle-class family created in 1917 by Sidney Smith (1877-1935), running in nation-wide newspapers until 1959. Readers anxiously followed the convoluted story lines, and by1919, this popularity prompted an interest in film adaptations. Between 1923 and 1928, Universal Pictures produced at least four dozen Gumps two-reel comedies starring Joe Murphy (1877-1961),…
ID Number:1983.10.11801.2
Date:1926
Image of A section of the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad, circa 1899
Photograph

A section of the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad, circa 1899

The trek over Chilkoot and White Passes was grueling at best, particularly since gold seekers had to carry a ton or more of food and supplies. In 1898, businessmen got together to build a railroad through White Pass. The terrain and weather made construction very difficult, but the line was completed as far as Lake Bennett in July 1899.This photo…
ID Number:1983.10.13124
Date:Circa 1899
Image of Crowds meeting Freedom Train at King Street Station, Seattle, 1948
Photograph

Crowds meeting Freedom Train at King Street Station, Seattle, 1948

In 1947, the National Archives created a traveling museum called the Freedom Train, which stopped at 319 cities between 1947 and 1949. As part of an effort to underscore American freedoms in the post-war country, the display inside the rail cars included copies of the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, a draft of the Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas…
ID Number:1986.5.3595.1
Date:1948
Image of Children watching model train display at Seattle Center, June 1, 1963
Photograph

Children watching model train display at Seattle Center, June 1, 1963

After the close of the 1962 Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair) many of the buildings built for the fair were converted for community use. The Seattle Center reopened in June of 1963 with an informal opening attended by 20,000 people. A formal dedication was held 6 days later on June 7.In this image, young people watch model trains running…
ID Number:1986.5.7759.3
Date:1963
Image of Morrison family at Stampede Pass Hospital, circa 1888
Photograph

Morrison family at Stampede Pass Hospital, circa 1888

In February 1886, work began on the Northern Pacific Railroad's Stampede Pass Tunnel through the Cascade Mountains. At the east portal worksite, workers built barracks, supply buildings, the engineers' headquarters and a hospital. The hospital was staffed by a Dr. Morrison, who lived there with his family during the building of the tunnel.In this photo, taken sometime after 1886, Dr.…
ID Number:1986.17.1
Date:Circa 1888
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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.
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