• Visit
    • Museum Accessibility
    • Community Access
    • Group Visits and Tours
    • Programs
      • History Café
      • MOHAI Mercantile Literary Series
      • First Thursday
      • Denny Lecture
      • Al Young Educator of the Year
      • Everyday Heroes
    • MOHAI Mercantile
    • Gourmondo at MOHAI
  • Exhibits
  • Events
  • Collections and Research
    • Collections Search
    • Themed Collections
    • Research Library
    • Image Ordering
    • Donate an Artifact
    • Curator’s Fellowship
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Membership at MOHAI
    • Gift Memberships
    • Corporate Support
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • Self-Guided School Year Explorations
      • Creating Our Community
      • Cracking the History Code: Salish Stories
      • Cracking the History Code: Settling Around the Sound
      • Hands on History
      • Self-Guided Summer Field Trips
      • Homeschool Group
    • Portable Museum Program
    • Scholarships
    • Education FAQ
    • Primary Source Analysis
    • Online Curricula
    • Teen Programs
    • Idea Lab
    • Discovery Packs
    • Summer Camps
  • About
    • Annual Reports
    • The MOHAI Blog
    • Contact MOHAI
    • Opportunities
    • Leadership
    • Private Events
  • Donate
  • Tickets
  • Membership
HomeCollections and ResearchCollections Search

Collections Search

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.

Download lower resolution images directly from an item page. MOHAI offers high-resolution digital reproductions of photographs and other materials from our collections for personal and professional use.

We have many more items in our collections and not everything you see online is on view at the museum. We have additional materials online at the University of Washington’s Digital Collections.

MOHAI Statement on Harmful Content

Search by Collection

Not finding what you are looking for?
Ask the MOHAI Collections Staff

406 results for: Construction and Urban Planning

Share:
Image of Releasing water from Lake Union into the Montlake Cut, Seattle, August 26, 1916
Photograph

Releasing water from Lake Union into the Montlake Cut, Seattle, August 26, 1916

The Montlake Cut is part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal that connects Puget Sound, Lake Union, and Lake Washington. While digging the Montlake Cut, engineers built a temporary dam to hold back the waters of Lake Union's Portage Bay. The waters were released in August 1916, and the Lake Washington Ship Canal opened for business on July 4, 1917,…
ID Number:1983.10.10326
Date:1916
Image of Times Square Building under construction, August 21, 1916
Photograph

Times Square Building under construction, August 21, 1916

Alden Blethen, owner of the Seattle Times, broke ground for the Times Square Building in 1914. Construction began in 1915, right after Blethen's death, and the building was dedicated in his memory. The newspaper's printing presses were moved in September 1916, and the building opened for business.This photo shows the west end of the Times Square Building in August 1916,…
ID Number:1983.10.10327
Date:1916
Image of Men constructing buildings for military on University of Washington campus, Seattle, 1917
Photograph

Men constructing buildings for military on University of Washington campus, Seattle, 1917

The University of Washington hosted military facilities for both the Army and Navy during World War I. The campus had a branch of the Student Army Training Corps (SATC), with nearly 2000 male students registered, and the University providing room and mess while the military provided training. SATC began recruitment in September 1918, and was demobilized in November 1918, eventually…
ID Number:1983.10.10583.2
Date:1917
Image of New dock at the Port of Seattle, August 8, 1942
Photograph

New dock at the Port of Seattle, August 8, 1942

When the United States entered entered World War II, Seattle became a busy port again. Hooverville, home to many unemployed people during the Depression, was replaced by a large new pier.In this photo, taken in 1942, the new dock is under construction at the Port of Seattle. Webster & Stevens number: 44-392
ID Number:1983.10.14632.1
Date:1942
Image of Columbia Center construction, Seattle, September 23, 1983
Photograph

Columbia Center construction, Seattle, September 23, 1983

In 1983, the National Press Photographers Association sponsored a documentary project called "Day in the Life of Washington: September 23, 1983." Photographers from the NPAA, the American Society of Magazine Photographers, and freelancers participated in the 24-hour "Dayshoot," recording the ordinary occurrences of everyday life that might take on larger significance in a historical perspective. One hundred twenty of the…
ID Number:1984.118.179b
Date:1983
Image of Constructing the West Seattle Bridge, September 23, 1983
Photograph

Constructing the West Seattle Bridge, September 23, 1983

In 1983, the National Press Photographers Association sponsored a documentary project called "Day in the Life of Washington: September 23, 1983." Photographers from the NPAA, the American Society of Magazine Photographers, and freelancers participated in the 24-hour "Dayshoot," recording the ordinary occurrences of everyday life that might take on larger significance in a historical perspective. One hundred twenty of the…
ID Number:1984.118.392b
Date:1983
Image of Downtown Seattle from Harborview park, September 23, 1983
Photograph

Downtown Seattle from Harborview park, September 23, 1983

In 1983, the National Press Photographers Association sponsored a documentary project called "Day in the Life of Washington: September 23, 1983." Photographers from the NPAA, the American Society of Magazine Photographers, and freelancers participated in the 24-hour "Dayshoot," recording the ordinary occurrences of everyday life that might take on larger significance in a historical perspective. One hundred twenty of the…
ID Number:1984.118.466
Date:1983
Videorecording

Oral history interview with Palmer G. Lewis, September 4, 1985

Palmer G. Lewis (1904-1994) founded one of the nation's major independent building-material distributorships, the Palmer G. Lewis Co., of Auburn. Mr. Lewis started his business in 1940 in Seattle, travelling to Alaska to sell building products for supply companies to the growing population there. Total sales grew from $40,000 that first year into the millions. The company eventually became a…
ID Number:1985.135.15
Date:1985
Image of The  International Fountain under construction for the Seattle World's Fair, 1961
Photograph

The International Fountain under construction for the Seattle World's Fair, 1961

The science-themed Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair) opened on April 21, 1962. Visitors to the Fair could ride the Monorail, take the elevator to the top of the Space Needle, and see the exhibits in five themed areas: The World of Science, The World of Tomorrow, The World of Commerce & Industry, The World of Art, and The World…
ID Number:1986.5.2622.1
Date:1961
Image of Construction of the U.S. Science Pavillion for the Century 21 Exposition, 1961
Photograph

Construction of the U.S. Science Pavillion for the Century 21 Exposition, 1961

The science-themed Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair) opened on April 21, 1962. Visitors to the Fair could ride the Monorail, take the elevator to the top of the Space Needle, and see the exhibits in five themed areas: The World of Science, The World of Tomorrow, The World of Commerce & Industry, The World of Art, and The World…
ID Number:1986.5.2622.2
Date:1961
Previous 1 … 13 14 15 16 17 … 41 Next

Land Acknowledgement

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
  • Plan a Visit
  • Directions and Parking
  • Accessibility
  • Group Tours
  • About

Sign up to Receive our Newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright 2026, Museum of History & Industry. All Rights Reserved