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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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316 results for: Recreation

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Image of Lookout at Madrona Park, Seattle, 1909
Photograph

Lookout at Madrona Park, Seattle, 1909

The Madrona beach on Lake Washington was popular for swimming and picnics. In 1890,the park was expanded and an electric trolley line built from downtown Seattle. This image shows a rustic lookout perched on a tree stump in the woods overlooking the shore. SHS category: ParksCaption information source: HistoryLink.org essay 2235.
ID Number:SHS9163
Date:1909
Image of Brewers' Union picnic at River Park, 1894
Photograph

Brewers' Union picnic at River Park, 1894

Many Seattle-area labor unions held regular social and family events. On August 12, 1894, members of the Brewer's Union and their families gathered in River Park for their annual picnic. During the day, they assembled with their families for this group photograph. The photo was probably taken in King County, but the park's location has not yet been identified.
ID Number:SHS9785
Date:1894
Image of Ned Darling posing with dog sled team before departure for Seattle, Nome, Alaska, February 2, 1906
Photograph

Ned Darling posing with dog sled team before departure for Seattle, Nome, Alaska, February 2, 1906

The world's record for the fastest time of a midwinter "mush" from Nome to Seattle via Valdez was set by Charles Edward "Ned" Darling (1871-1923) at 42 days, beating the previous record by four days. Born in Ireland, at the time of this image Ned was a hardware merchant in Nome, Alaska. He moved to Berkeley, California, before 1920 with…
ID Number:SHS9888
Date:1906
Image of Harry Whitney Treat on horse, Seattle, circa 1920
Photograph

Harry Whitney Treat on horse, Seattle, circa 1920

Seattle businessman Harry Whitney Treat (1865-1922) and his family arrived in Seattle around 1904. Active in real estate, he bought hundreds of acres in Ballard, where he developed the Loyal Heights area and Golden Gardens Park, originally called Loyal Beach. Both were named for his younger daughter Loyal Graef (Treat) Nichols. The Treats owned a mansion on Queen Anne Hill,…
ID Number:SHS10234
Date:Circa 1920
Image of Seattle's first motor-driven sightseeing bus, Seattle, 1907
Photograph

Seattle's first motor-driven sightseeing bus, Seattle, 1907

In 1907, Seattle residents and visitors could climb on the city's first motor-driven sightseeing bus. The vehicle carried passengers to The Meadows racetrack and other destinations. The bus was also used to show visitors the sights at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE).
ID Number:SHS16180
Date:1907
Image of Ibsen family water skiing on Lake Washington, Seattle, circa 1955
Photograph

Ibsen family water skiing on Lake Washington, Seattle, circa 1955

Water skiing pioneer Donald Sylvester Ibsen (1910-1993) was a star athlete at Roosevelt High School, and made his first pair of water skis the summer he graduated, in 1928. Within 10 years he had started the Olympic Water Ski Club and created a water ski team to perform shows around the Northwest. He also appeared on the pages of Life…
ID Number:SHS19348
Date:Circa 1955
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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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