• 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

272 results for: Lake Union

Share:
Image of U.S. Post office employees in front of Green Lake Station, Seattle, August 15, 1935
Photograph

U.S. Post office employees in front of Green Lake Station, Seattle, August 15, 1935

The first United States Post Office in Seattle--and the first in King County--opened in 1853 in pioneer Arthur Armstrong Denny's (1822-1899) log cabin home on Front Street (now First Avenue) and Marion Street, with Denny named the first postmaster. Previously, all mail for Seattle and Alki was delivered once a week by canoe from Olympia. The Seattle Post Office lacked…
ID Number:1972.5319.47
Date:1935
Image of U.S. Post office employees in front of Lake City Station, Seattle, June 1956
Photograph

U.S. Post office employees in front of Lake City Station, Seattle, June 1956

The first United States Post Office in Seattle--and the first in King County--opened in 1853 in pioneer Arthur Armstrong Denny's (1822-1899) log cabin home on Front Street (now First Avenue) and Marion Street, with Denny named the first postmaster. Previously, all mail for Seattle and Alki was delivered once a week by canoe from Olympia. The Seattle Post Office lacked…
ID Number:1972.5319.68
Date:1956
Image of Passengers boarding the Ferry Kalakala on Lake Union, Seattle, September 7, 1950
Photograph

Passengers boarding the Ferry Kalakala on Lake Union, Seattle, September 7, 1950

This image of passengers boarding the Ferry Kalakala at the U. S. Naval Marine Corps Armory (now MOHAI) on Lake Union is part of a series of photographs taken during the 37th biennial convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers, which took place in Seattle on September 4-7, 1950. Two boat rides were scheduled aboard the ferry Kalakala for…
ID Number:1972.5319.78
Date:1950
Image of Pay Streak at Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition from Lake Union, Seattle, 1909
Photograph

Pay Streak at Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition from Lake Union, Seattle, 1909

Visitors to the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition crowded to the concessions on the Pay Streak. Here they could enjoy exciting rides, visit a reconstruction of the Streets of Cairo, buy snacks at the Tokio Cafe, and look at Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines in a reconstructed village. The Pay Streak was named after concentrated streaks of gold or other valuable ore.This view…
ID Number:1974.5868.146
Date:1909
Image of Portage Bay and Lake Washington from west, Seattle, 1908
Photograph

Portage Bay and Lake Washington from west, Seattle, 1908

This view shows Portage Bay between Lake Union and Lake Washington. Embossed on mount: HarwoodHandwritten on verso: 1908 - Portage between Lk Union and Lk Washington from Bruen and Bests addition.
ID Number:1974.5868.190
Date:1908
Image of Flume on portage between Lake Union and Lake Washington, Seattle, circa 1908
Photograph

Flume on portage between Lake Union and Lake Washington, Seattle, circa 1908

Here, a log flume on the future Lake Washington Ship Canal is featured in a stereoview. Embossed on mount: Harwood
ID Number:1974.5868.192
Date:Circa 1908
Image of Ravenna area and Union Bay, Seattle, 1908
Photograph

Ravenna area and Union Bay, Seattle, 1908

According to the note on the back, this photo features Calvary Cemetery in Ravenna and Lake Union in the distance. Handwritten on verso: Union Bay overlooking Ravenna Cmtry (Calvary Cmtry) 1908. Univ. Village would be below house on right. Before Lake Wash. was lowered 12 feet. Looking south from above Calvary Cemetery.
ID Number:1974.5868.247
Date:1908
Image of Logs in Montlake canal, Seattle, 1908
Photograph

Logs in Montlake canal, Seattle, 1908

Before the building of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, a small canal connected Lake Washington with Lake Union's Portage Bay. This photo shows a man guiding logs down the canal in the Montlake area. Handwritten on verso: 1908 - Portage canal - Portage log canal - parallel to and south of present Mountlake [sic] canal.
ID Number:1974.5868.256
Date:1908
Image of Lumber mill on Lake Union, Seattle, circa 1903
Photograph

Lumber mill on Lake Union, Seattle, circa 1903

This early view looks east from the canal at Fremont and shows the wooden trestle that preceded the Fremont draw bridge, with a lumber mill in the background. Embossed on mount: HarwoodHandwritten on verso: Lk Union Mill
ID Number:1974.5868.260
Date:Circa 1903
Image of Logs in Montlake canal, Seattle, 1906
Photograph

Logs in Montlake canal, Seattle, 1906

Before the building of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, a small canal connected Lake Washington with Lake Union's Portage Bay. This photo shows logs entering the Lake Washington end of the canal. Embossed on mount: HarwoodHandwritten on verso: 1906 - Portage canal - Lake Wash. to Union Bay (before Ship Canal)
ID Number:1974.5868.407
Date:1906
Previous 1 2 3 4 … 28 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