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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.

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.

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525 results for: Government and Public Services

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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
Image of Workmen cleaning transit bus, Seattle, May 16, 1963
Photograph

Workmen cleaning transit bus, Seattle, May 16, 1963

In this image, two transit workers clean the first of 100 new diesel buses while it is sitting on a Great Northern Railway flatcar. The new buses were intended to help improve Seattle Transit System (later Metro Transit) service to Seattle's north end neighborhoods. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the…
ID Number:2000.107.190.09.01
Date:1963
Image of High school students riding transit bus, Seattle, October 26, 1955
Photograph

High school students riding transit bus, Seattle, October 26, 1955

In this image a group of Queen Anne High School students wave while sitting in one of the Seattle Transit System's (later Metro Transit) new diesel-powered buses. The students were touring the Atlantic Street station and trying out the new roomier buses. The 100 new coaches from General Motors had a carrying capacity of 51 passengers. Caption information derived from…
ID Number:2000.107.190.09.02
Date:1955
Image of Passengers boarding Blue Streak bus at Northgate, Seattle, September 9, 1970
Photograph

Passengers boarding Blue Streak bus at Northgate, Seattle, September 9, 1970

In this image passengers board a Seattle Transit System (now Metro Transit) Blue Streak bus at the Northgate Station. The Blue Streaks were intended as fast or express service buses, added at peak travel times. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.
ID Number:2000.107.190.10.01
Date:1970
Image of Elaine Youch and Elizabeth Holsten leaving Fun! Run Bus, Seattle, June 20, 1972
Photograph

Elaine Youch and Elizabeth Holsten leaving Fun! Run Bus, Seattle, June 20, 1972

In this image passengers Elaine Youch, left, and Elizabeth Holsten leap from the summer run "Fun! Run Bus." The Seattle Transit System (now Metro Transit) operated this 10-cent ride between the waterfront and Seattle Center through the month of August 1972. Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.
ID Number:2000.107.190.10.02
Date:1972
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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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