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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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151 results for: Aerospace

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Image of
Poster

"No Nerds, No Birds," poster from Boeing engineers strike, 2000

On February 9, 2000, more than 17,000 engineers and technicians from the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) walked out of Boeing plants across the country. This was the first major strike for the engineers' organization, which formed in Seattle in 1944. After the 40-day standoff, a mediated contract was approved with significant SPEEA gains on pay increases…
ID Number:2020.8.1
Date:2000
Image of The Gear Works brochure, Seattle, circa 1999
Ephemera

The Gear Works brochure, Seattle, circa 1999

The Gear Works was founded in 1946 by Ingwald Ramberg in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. By the 1990s, the family-owned company had grown to become one of the largest gear-manufacturing companies in North America. Its huge gears were used in wind turbines, large earth moving equipment, NASA aerospace projects, and more. The company also repaired and replaced the gear boxes…
ID Number:2021.86.7
Date:Circa 1999
Image of Blue Angels flying over Lake Washington during Seafair, Mount Rainier in background, Seattle, 1987
Photograph

Blue Angels flying over Lake Washington during Seafair, Mount Rainier in background, Seattle, 1987

The Blue Angels are the US Navy's flight demonstration squadron, founded in 1946. They have flown in Seattle's Seafair air show almost every year since the air shows began in 1972. The Blue Angels have flown eight different models of demonstration aircraft in their history. In this image taken by photographer Josef Scaylea they fly new F/A-18 Hornets over Lake…
ID Number:Lib1993.20.49
Date:1987
Image of Blue Angels flying over Lake Washington during Seafair, Mount Rainier in background, Seattle, August 1978
Photograph

Blue Angels flying over Lake Washington during Seafair, Mount Rainier in background, Seattle, August 1978

The Blue Angels are the US Navy's flight demonstration squadron, founded in 1946. They have flown in Seattle's Seafair air show almost every year since the air shows began in 1972. Photographer Josef Scaylea (1913-2004) worked for 35 years as chief photographer for the Seattle Times, winning over 1000 awards for his photographs highlighting the scenery and people in the…
ID Number:Lib1993.20.175
Date:8/1978
Image of Boeing hydrofoil in Elliott Bay, Seattle, November 1978
Photograph

Boeing hydrofoil in Elliott Bay, Seattle, November 1978

In the mid-twentieth century Seattle's aerospace giant, The Boeing Company, saw a market in fast ferries. The company began adapting many systems used in jet airplanes for passenger-carrying waterjet-propelled hydrofoils. Boeing Marine Systems (BMS) built their first hydrofoil at the Renton plant in 1960, and manufactured about 8 hydrofoils for the U. S. military, and 28 that were used in…
ID Number:Lib1993.20.185
Date:1978
Image of First 707 passenger flight from Sea-Tac Airport, Bow Lake, 1958
Photograph

First 707 passenger flight from Sea-Tac Airport, Bow Lake, 1958

The Boeing 707 Stratoliner was the first American jetliner and would prove to be the first of the company's successful line of commercial jets. This image of the first passenger 707 flight out of SeaTac taken by Josef Scaylea was intended to convey the feeling of speed.Photographer Josef Scaylea (1913-2004) worked for 35 years as chief photographer for the Seattle…
ID Number:Lib1993.20.192
Date:1958
Image of Aerial view of Sea-Tac Airport on opening day, July 9, 1949
Photograph

Aerial view of Sea-Tac Airport on opening day, July 9, 1949

In 1942, construction started on a new international airport between Seattle and Tacoma. The new airport, dubbed Sea-Tac, was formally dedicated on July 9, 1949. The airport cost $11 milliion and opened free of debt. United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Pan American World Airways and Western Airlines started their regular passenger service at Sea-Tac on the day of the dedication.This July…
ID Number:PI20340
Date:1949
Image of Aerial of Boeing Plant #2 looking southeast, Seattle, 1943
Photograph

Aerial of Boeing Plant #2 looking southeast, Seattle, 1943

Boeing's Plant #2 was built in 1936 in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood next to the Duwamish River, with additional construction in 1941. The main saw manufacturing of iconic planes like the B-17 "Flying Fortress" bombers, B-29 "Superfortress" bombers, B-52 bomber, and the 737. A crucial site of production during World War II, the plant was camouflaged at one point during the…
ID Number:PI23924
Date:1943
Image of Men working on B-17 engines at the Boeing plant, November 1940
Photograph

Men working on B-17 engines at the Boeing plant, November 1940

In 1940, some 7,500 Boeing Aircraft Company employees worked 24 hours per day to build B-17 Flying Fortress bombers for the British and American military. These long-range propeller-driven planes were capable of attacking an enemy fleet more than 1,000 miles offshore and conducting bombing raids on Germany from England. At this time, the United States had not yet entered World…
ID Number:PI23926
Date:1940
Image of Crowd watching Charles K. Hamilton at The Meadows, Georgetown, March 11, 1910
Photograph

Crowd watching Charles K. Hamilton at The Meadows, Georgetown, March 11, 1910

Pioneer aviator Charles Keeney Hamilton (1881 or 1885-1914) became the first to fly in the state of Washington when he piloted his Curtiss biplane, the Reims Racer, over Seattle on March 11, 1910. Nicknamed "the bird man" and "crazy man of the air," Hamilton survived over 60 crashes. In this image Hamilton and his plane can be seen above the…
ID Number:SHS349
Date:1911
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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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