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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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506 results for: Government and Public Services

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Image of Teacher and class on steps of closed SOIC building, August 1986
Photograph

Teacher and class on steps of closed SOIC building, August 1986

The Seattle Opportunities Industrialization Center, or SOIC (pronounced "So I see"), was established in 1966, largely through a grant from the Office of Economic Opportunity, the federal agency funding "war on poverty" programs. Modeled after the original OIC started by a Philadelphia minister two years earlier, the community-based program recruited, trained and placed unemployed people in the labor market. The…
ID Number:2000.107.177.26.06
Date:1986
Image of City employees collecting money from parking meters, Seattle, February 7, 1942
Photograph

City employees collecting money from parking meters, Seattle, February 7, 1942

Stating in 1935, controversy raged in Seattle over whether people should have to pay to park on downtown streets. The first parking meters went into operation on February 5, 1942. The fee was five cents per hour.Here, Seattle Police Department Parking Enforcement division employees Ed Lorentzen and Einar Larson make the first collection from the 77 new meters. They replaced…
ID Number:2000.107.178.06.04
Date:1942
Image of Fire inspectors at Ray's Boathouse, Seattle, May 27, 1987
Photograph

Fire inspectors at Ray's Boathouse, Seattle, May 27, 1987

One of Seattle’s landmark waterfront restaurants, Ray’s Boathouse, burned in a spectacular fire on May 26, 1987. A wiring problem beneath Ray’s pier caused plumes of smoke, which spread up into the restaurant through the kitchen floor and prompted the evacuation of customers and staff. Some 50 to 60 fire fighters, plus 20 fire trucks and boats fought the four-alarm…
ID Number:2000.107.185.24.02
Date:1987
Image of Fire at Ray's Boathouse, Seattle, May 26, 1987
Photograph

Fire at Ray's Boathouse, Seattle, May 26, 1987

One of Seattle’s landmark waterfront restaurants, Ray’s Boathouse, burned in a spectacular fire on May 26, 1987. A wiring problem beneath Ray’s pier caused plumes of smoke, which spread up into the restaurant through the kitchen floor and prompted the evacuation of customers and staff. Some 50 to 60 fire fighters, plus 20 fire trucks and boats fought the four-alarm…
ID Number:2000.107.185.24.04
Date:1987
Image of Boat being moved from the fire at Ray's Boathouse, Seattle, May 26, 1987
Photograph

Boat being moved from the fire at Ray's Boathouse, Seattle, May 26, 1987

One of Seattle’s landmark waterfront restaurants, Ray’s Boathouse, burned in a spectacular fire on May 26, 1987. A wiring problem beneath Ray’s pier caused plumes of smoke, which spread up into the restaurant through the kitchen floor and prompted the evacuation of customers and staff. Some 50 to 60 fire fighters, plus 20 fire trucks and boats fought the four-alarm…
ID Number:2000.107.185.24.05
Date:1987
Image of View of sanitary landfill on 43rd. Ave. S. looking south, Seattle, December 1942
Photograph

View of sanitary landfill on 43rd. Ave. S. looking south, Seattle, December 1942

This image shows a sanitary landfill on 43rd Ave S between Genesee St. and Lake Washington Boulevard. A sanitary landfill, or fill, was a type of garbage dump in which trash was deposited, spread out and compacted, then covered in several inches of dirt. The city had proposed to expand the fill eastward to 45th Ave S, but residents of…
ID Number:2000.107.188.33.01
Date:1942
Image of View of sanitary landfill on 43rd. Ave. S. looking west, Seattle, December 1942
Photograph

View of sanitary landfill on 43rd. Ave. S. looking west, Seattle, December 1942

This image shows a sanitary landfill on 43rd Ave S between Genesee St. and Lake Washington Boulevard. A sanitary landfill, or fill, was a type of garbage dump in which trash was deposited, spread out and compacted, then covered in several inches of dirt. The city had proposed to expand the fill eastward to 45th Ave S, but residents of…
ID Number:2000.107.188.33.02
Date:1942
Image of Men preparing a transit system sand truck, Seattle, December 29, 1951
Photograph

Men preparing a transit system sand truck, Seattle, December 29, 1951

In this image H. J. Stewart, left, and mechanic E. T. Jacobson prepare a Seattle Transit System (later Metro Transit) truck for winter weather conditions. The device on the rear of the truck is an automatic sander. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.
ID Number:2000.107.190.08.02
Date:1951
Image of George Moyer studying new transit fare boxes, Seattle, April 28, 1949
Photograph

George Moyer studying new transit fare boxes, Seattle, April 28, 1949

In this image George E. Moyer, superintendent of transportation for the Seattle Transit System (later Metro Transit), examines one of the new fare boxes to be installed in the company's buses, "scientifically" designed to improve efficiency in loading passengers. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.
ID Number:2000.107.190.08.03
Date:1949
Image of Bus driver D. L. Franklin with new 10 cent fare box, Seattle, June 22, 1947
Photograph

Bus driver D. L. Franklin with new 10 cent fare box, Seattle, June 22, 1947

In this image D. L. Franklin, bus driver for Seattle Transit System (later Metro Transit), sits beside his fare box, plainly marked to indicate the new flat rate of 10 cents a ride. The increase from 8 1/3 cents went into effect June 22, 1947. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of…
ID Number:2000.107.190.08.05
Date:1947
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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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