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257 results for: Washington Territory

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Image of Photo of map of Seattle before fire, 1889
Photograph

Photo of map of Seattle before fire, 1889

Seattle in the 1880s was a rapidly growing city, aided in no small part by the 1883 connection with the Northern Pacific Railway Company. Lumber and coal were the primary industries, but the growth of fishing, wholesale trade, shipbuilding, and shipping also contributed to the town's economic expansion and population growth. The Seattle City Census of 1888 records population at…
ID Number:SHS483B
Date:1889
Image of Ruins of Dexter Horton Bank building after Great Fire, Seattle, June 1889
Photograph

Ruins of Dexter Horton Bank building after Great Fire, Seattle, June 1889

The Dexter Horton building was historical even in 1889. It was Seattle's first brick building, and it was the home of Washington Territory's first certified bank. After the 1889 fire destroyed the roof and interior, the bank's owners set up a temporary bank in the renovated ruins. At the same time, they started planning a large new building for the…
ID Number:SHS507
Date:1889
Image of Commercial Street in snow, Seattle, January 10, 1880
Photograph

Commercial Street in snow, Seattle, January 10, 1880

In the 1880s, Seattle's business district was near Pioneer Square. Loggers, miners, and others came to this part of the city to find work, supplies, and entertainment. Others came to Seattle to attend the Territorial University, which stood on a hill above the city .This photo, taken in 1880, shows the intersection of Commercial Street (now First Avenue South) and…
ID Number:SHS613
Date:1880
Image of Crowd watching parade on Madison Street, Seattle, May 30, 1884
Photograph

Crowd watching parade on Madison Street, Seattle, May 30, 1884

In this photo, crowds line the dirt road along Front Street (now First Avenue) to watch the approaching parade, probably in honor of Memorial Day. The sign leading underground at lower left reads "People's Chop House. Meals At All Hours. 25 cents".This view looks north on Front Street from Madison Street, and all the buildings seen here would be destroyed…
ID Number:SHS675
Date:1884
Image of National Guard of Washington officers posing after the fire, Seattle, June 1889
Photograph

National Guard of Washington officers posing after the fire, Seattle, June 1889

The Great Fire of June 6, 1889 was a significant turning point in Seattle's history and changed both the physical and political landscapes of the City. 100 acres of Seattle's business district and waterfront were destroyed. The burned areas were guarded and patrolled by members of the Washington National Guard from Seattle, Tacoma, and Port Townsend until June 11, 1889.…
ID Number:SHS685
Date:1889
Image of Members of the Washington National Guard in Seattle, June 1889
Photograph

Members of the Washington National Guard in Seattle, June 1889

The Great Fire of June 6, 1889 was a significant turning point in Seattle's history and changed both the physical and political landscapes of the City. One hundred acres of Seattle's business district and waterfront were destroyed. The burned areas were guarded and patrolled by members of the Washington National Guard from Seattle, Tacoma, and Port Townsend until June 11,…
ID Number:SHS710
Date:1889
Image of Washington National Guard 1st Infantry Regiment parade to Alki Point, West Seattle, May 13, 1886
Photograph

Washington National Guard 1st Infantry Regiment parade to Alki Point, West Seattle, May 13, 1886

During the period before statehood, the U. S. Federal Government authorized Washington Territory to form militia units to assist the civil authorities in maintaining law and order. A more permanent force was created on March 9, 1886, with the formation of the First Infantry Regiment of the Washington National Guard, led by Lieutenant-Colonel George D. Hill. The 2nd Infantry Regiment followed…
ID Number:SHS812
Date:1886
Image of Seattle Street Railway car on first day of service, Seattle, September 1884
Photograph

Seattle Street Railway car on first day of service, Seattle, September 1884

In September 1884, Washington Territory's first streetcar line opened in Seattle. By the end of the year, the line had three miles of track and four streetcars which were operated by a total of ten men and twenty horses. One branch ran out to Lake Union, and the other ran to Front Street (First Avenue) and on to Queen Anne…
ID Number:SHS898
Date:1884
Image of Van Asselt family, circa 1885
Photograph

Van Asselt family, circa 1885

Henry Van Asselt was born in Holland in 1817. In 1851, he and several others settled in the Duwamish River valley, where Boeing now stands. Van Asselt's land claim is slightly older than that of the Denny Party, making him one of the Seattle area's earliest white settlers. Van Asselt was a successful farmer and furniture maker. In 1862, he…
ID Number:SHS971
Date:Circa 1885
Image of Yesler Way and Yesler's Mill, Seattle, 1873
Photograph

Yesler Way and Yesler's Mill, Seattle, 1873

Henry Yesler arrived in Seattle in 1852 and soon built the first steam-powered sawmill on Puget Sound. It was located on the waterfront at the foot of Mill Street, now called Yesler Way.This 1873 image also shows the Pioneer Drug Store and the Seattle Bakery. Yesler's Wharf, where lumber schooners docked, would be beyond the mill's tall smokestack. Title from…
ID Number:SHS1108
Date:1873
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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.
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109
Phone: 206 324 1126
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