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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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1513 results for: City of Seattle

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Image of New homes on Capitol Hill, Seattle, circa 1915
Photograph

New homes on Capitol Hill, Seattle, circa 1915

Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood is part of a long ridge that overlooks downtown, and was logged off beginning in the 1880s. The neighborhood's chief developer, James Moore (1861-1929), gave the hill its name in 1901.This view of newly constructed craftsman-style houses was taken at what appears to be 18th Avenue NE and E Galer Street. The residences may have been…
ID Number:1983.10.1538.10
Date:Circa 1915
Image of Passengers boarding trolley at West Seattle Junction,  circa 1925
Photograph

Passengers boarding trolley at West Seattle Junction, circa 1925

The primary commercial district in the West Seattle neighborhood, commonly called the Junction, was originally formed in 1907 at the crossroads of two street car lines along what are now California Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street. Heavy promotion encouraged a residential real estate boom in the area, and the 1920s saw significant commercial growth. This image of California Avenue…
ID Number:1983.10.1577.3
Date:Circa 1925
Image of Ole Hanson posing in suit and fur stole, Seattle, circa 1919
Photograph

Ole Hanson posing in suit and fur stole, Seattle, circa 1919

Ole Hanson (1874-1940) was a man who packed multiple lives into one. He's best known in Washington for his role, as Seattle's mayor, in ending the city's General Strike of 1919, but he's also well known for founding the city of San Clemente, California, six years later. Though opportunistic and erratic, Hanson was a shrewd politician and realtor who left…
ID Number:1983.10.1760.2
Date:Circa 1919
Image of Exterior of East Kong Yick Building, Seattle, circa 1920
Photograph

Exterior of East Kong Yick Building, Seattle, circa 1920

Starting in 1907, Asian immigrants began moving their businesses into the area around Seattle's King Street. Ethnic enclaves helped reinforce cultural and kinship ties, and provided a sense of security from an often hostile white majority. The Chinese didn't have much choice; restrictive covenants by real estate agents and homeowners prevented Chinese and other Asians from living elsewhere. The neighborhood…
ID Number:1983.10.1774.1
Date:Circa 1920
Image of Main Street School, Bellevue, Washington, circa 1920
Photograph

Main Street School, Bellevue, Washington, circa 1920

Bellevue School, also called the Main Street School, opened in 1892. By 1912, the size of the schoolhouse doubled to accommodate the growing population. Although teachers taught some high school classes in Bellevue beginning in 1910, many of the city's early high school students had to travel to Seattle to complete their education.This photo, taken around 1920, shows the later…
ID Number:1983.10.1911.6
Date:Circa 1920
Image of Japanese silk weavers, circa 1920
Photograph

Japanese silk weavers, circa 1920

During the 1920s, millions of dollars of Japanese raw silk came through the port of Seattle on the way to mills in the eastern United States. From time to time, groups of Japanese businessmen and other Japanese citizens visited the city to promote the silk trade. In this photo, taken around 1920, four Japanese silk weavers in kimonos pose for…
ID Number:1983.10.1970.3
Date:Circa 1920
Image of House for sale in downtown Seattle, circa 1919
Photograph

House for sale in downtown Seattle, circa 1919

By the 1920s, Seattle had changed from a city of small, wooden buildings to a city of brick and stone. This photo was taken about 1919 on Fourth Avenue, between Columbia and Marion Streets. It shows Seattle's oldest standing home now for sale, dwarfed by the growing city. To the left of the house is the red brick Rainier Club.…
ID Number:1983.10.2016
Date:Circa 1919
Image of Dairy herd inspector, circa 1921
Photograph

Dairy herd inspector, circa 1921

For many years, Seattle-area cows and milk have been tested to make sure that the city's milk supply was of good quality and safe to drink. This is particularly important because tuberculosis and other diseases can be spread by contaminated milk. In this photo, taken around 1921, a dairy herd inspector stands with his car and equipment. You may be…
ID Number:1983.10.2130
Date:Circa 1921
Image of Bartell Drugstore No. 8, circa 1921
Photograph

Bartell Drugstore No. 8, circa 1921

George H. Bartell started his first drugstore on Jackson Street in 1890, shortly after Seattle's great fire. By the end of 1921, he had a chain of eight drugstores in various parts of the city. This photo, probably taken in 1921, shows a new Bartell drugstore. The Pioneer Dentists, advertising painless dentistry, had their offices upstairs. This building still stands…
ID Number:1983.10.2144
Date:Circa 1921
Image of Sorrento Hotel garden, Seattle, circa 1921
Photograph

Sorrento Hotel garden, Seattle, circa 1921

By 1910, a number of hotels had been built just outside Seattle's downtown area for people traveling on business or pleasure. The Sorrento Hotel, which advertised itself as "a hotel in the heart of things," opened on First Hill in 1908. It had Seattle's first rooftop restaurant, a roof garden, and scenic views of the city, the bay, and the…
ID Number:1983.10.2171.2
Date:Circa 1921
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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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