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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 Thomas Barker talking to shipyard workers inside the hull of a wooden ship, 1918
Photograph

Thomas Barker talking to shipyard workers inside the hull of a wooden ship, 1918

When the United States entered World War I in 1918, Seattle's shipyard workeers were called on to help win the war.In this photo, Thomas Barker, representing the U.S. Department of Labor, speaks to several hundred shipyard workers about the importance of their work to the nation's war effort. The men are sitting on the beams and scaffolding of a large…
ID Number:1983.10.7236.3
Date:1918
Image of Beach view to the east from Alki Natatorium, circa 1905
Photograph

Beach view to the east from Alki Natatorium, circa 1905

In 1905, the Alki Point Transportation Company opened the Alki Natatorium in West Seattle. Visitors could swim in the heated waters of the 130-foot long swimming pool or go to Saturday night dances in the adjacent pavilion. From the porch of the pavilion, visitors could see a wide view of Puget Sound.This 1905 photo shows a quiet view to the…
ID Number:1983.10.7330
Date:Circa 1905
Image of Chinese trade commission, 1906
Photograph

Chinese trade commission, 1906

American trade with China and other Asian nations was increasing in the early 1900s. Seattle businessmen were particularly interested in having Chinese products enter the United States through Seattle.A group from China visited the city in 1905 to discuss trade and other matters. In this photo, they pose for their picture on the deck of their ship. Some of the…
ID Number:1983.10.7340.2
Date:1906
Image of Gold Rush days on the waterfront, June 3, 1906
Photograph

Gold Rush days on the waterfront, June 3, 1906

By 1906, the Nome gold rush still had a major impact on Seattle. Fortune-hunters crowded Seattle looking for a ship to take them north. Businesses boomed as people bought supplies for the gold camps. In the three days before this photo was taken, more than 2,000 passengers and 12,000 tons of freight sailed north on five steamers.In this photo, crowds…
ID Number:1983.10.7520
Date:1906
Image of Sailboat on Lake Washington, circa 1905
Photograph

Sailboat on Lake Washington, circa 1905

The waters of Puget Sound and nearby lakes make western Washington state an ideal location for all kinds of boats and boating activities. This photo shows two people enjoying a sail on Lake Washington. Handwritten on sleeve: Sailing on Lake Wash.Webster & Stevens number: 4803
ID Number:1983.10.7534
Date:Circa 1905
Image of S. S. Portland, circa 1905
Photograph

S. S. Portland, circa 1905

Before 1897, the "Portland" carried freight and passengers between the Pacific Northwest and Alaskan ports. The ship also gained some fame for smuggling opium and Chinese workers. The vessel's most famous moment came on July 17, 1897, when it returned to Seattle carrying Klondike gold miners and their gold. This set off a mad rush to the Yukon gold fields.This…
ID Number:1983.10.7554
Date:Circa 1905
Image of Steamer
Photograph

Steamer "Fortuna," circa 1906

The "Fortuna" was built for the Anderson Steamboat Company and the Seattle Street Railway in 1906. For many years, the vessel carried sightseers and travelers between various points on Lake Washington. The "Fortuna" was later rebuilt as a car ferry, and continued in service until the late 1920s.In this photo, the "Fortuna" steams across Lake Washington with a boatload of…
ID Number:1983.10.7560
Date:Circa 1906
Image of Aboard the launch Foxy, circa 1909
Photograph

Aboard the launch Foxy, circa 1909

Boats and ships have always been important in Seattle's work and recreation. In this photo, two young men pose behind the gleaming two-cylinder gas engine of their boat, named Foxy. Webster & Stevens number: 5170
ID Number:1983.10.7573.1
Date:Circa 1909
Image of Old sailor with ship model, circa 1906
Photograph

Old sailor with ship model, circa 1906

Many sailors stayed in Seattle and other port cities when they became too old for the hard work at sea. In Seattle, some lived at the Seamen's Institute home on Western Avenue.In this photo, taken at the Seamen's Institute around 1906, a retired sailor works on a model ship. Photographs and pictures decorate the net hanging on the wall behind…
ID Number:1983.10.7695
Date:Circa 1906
Image of Schertzer Brothers' boathouse and boat building company, circa 1909
Photograph

Schertzer Brothers' boathouse and boat building company, circa 1909

Between 1901 and 1917, William and Frank Schertzer operated a boathouse and boat building company on the shores of Lake Washington at Madrona Park. By 1918, the company had moved, possibly because the level of the lake dropped nine or more feet with the opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal.This photo, taken sometime between 1902 and 1917, shows the…
ID Number:1983.10.7869
Date:Circa 1909
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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
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