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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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357 results for: Homes and Housing

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Image of South Park, Your Last Chance to Secure a Home, 1890
Ephemera

South Park, Your Last Chance to Secure a Home, 1890

The first residents of Seattle's South Park neighborhood, on the west bank of the Duwamish River, were Coast Salish Peoples of the Duwamish Tribe. Beginning in 1851, white settlers like Eli Maple (or Mapel) (1831-1911) staked claims to the land, however the area was mostly utilized by farmers. In 1889, I. William Adams purchased the Donovan farm and he platted…
ID Number:MS.COLL.252
Date:1890
Image of A Southern Colonial House in Miniature, circa 1948
Ephemera

A Southern Colonial House in Miniature, circa 1948

This booklet describes the creation of the "Hammons House," a Colonial Revival miniature mansion co-designed by Claire Bagley Hammons, her husband Frederick Dent Hammons, and architect Joseph S. Coté. The model house was completed in 1948 and given as a gift to the Seattle Historical Society, now known as the Museum of History & Industry, in 1955. The pamphlet has…
ID Number:MS.COLL.814
Date:Circa 1948
Image of Engineers Town near site of Grand Coulee dam, circa 1937
Photograph

Engineers Town near site of Grand Coulee dam, circa 1937

Thousands of workers from all over the United States poured into the central Washington to work on the Grand Coulee Dam. Whether they were engineers, office workers or unskilled labor, all of these people and their families needed places to live. In December 1933, at the start of the dam project, workers graded the land for Engineers Town. Six months…
ID Number:PI22025
Date:Circa 1937
Image of Migrant family in makeshift housing, September 22, 1940
Photograph

Migrant family in makeshift housing, September 22, 1940

On September 22, 1940, a King County deputy sheriff found a family camped by the side of West Marginal Way. Harry Cooper had left North Dakota with his seven children, hoping to find a job in the Pacific Northwest. When found, the family had had nothing to eat for three days but some vegetables brought by neighbors.This photo shows the…
ID Number:PI22392
Date:1940
Image of Edwin Hill repairing roof of shack in Hooverville, Seattle, November 1939
Photograph

Edwin Hill repairing roof of shack in Hooverville, Seattle, November 1939

During the Depression of the 1930s, over 600 unemployed and homeless people lived in shacks on vacant land just south of downtown Seattle. They built their homes from scrap lumber and other materials which they found along the waterfront. This area, and similar places throughout the United States, were called Hoovervilles after President Herbert Hoover whom many people blamed for…
ID Number:PI22393
Date:1939
Image of Naval officers watching Hooverville shack burn, June 6, 1942
Photograph

Naval officers watching Hooverville shack burn, June 6, 1942

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, many unemployed and homeless people throughout the United States built shantytowns on vacant lots. The settlements were called Hoovervilles, after President Herbert Hoover whom many blamed for the depression. In Seattle, shantytowns grew in the waterfront areas south of downtown Seattle and north near Smith Cove. When the United States entered World War…
ID Number:PI22395
Date:1942
Image of High Point housing project, July 1942
Photograph

High Point housing project, July 1942

When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, workers were already pouring into Seattle to work at Boeing and other war industries. The Seattle Housing Authority rushed to complete High Point in West Seattle to house some of the war workers. Some 650 carpenters and other laborers built 700 homes, mainly duplexes.This July 1942 shows the High…
ID Number:PI23696
Date:1942
Image of Child care center at High Point housing project, April 1942
Photograph

Child care center at High Point housing project, April 1942

Many people came to the Seattle area during World War II to work in the shipyards and other war industries. Some of these men and women lived at the High Point housing project in West Seattle. Child care was a problem for working mothers. Many of High Point's young children were looked after at the community's child care center.This April…
ID Number:PI23697
Date:1942
Image of Rainier Vista Housing Project, Seattle, 1941
Photograph

Rainier Vista Housing Project, Seattle, 1941

The Rainier Vista Housing Project was built to house workers in Seattle's war industries. After the war, veterans moved into the development. It was once again used for defense industry workers during the Korean War. In 1953, the Seattle Housing Authority took over the development. Handwritten on negative: Rainier Vista housing project.Handwritten on sleeve: Seattle - housing projects - Rainier…
ID Number:PI23703
Date:1941
Image of Sand Point Housing Project, Seattle, 1941
Photograph

Sand Point Housing Project, Seattle, 1941

During World War II, the Navy built temporary officers quarters on the south end of the Sand Point Naval Air Station. The University of Washington took over the housing in 1957, renting the units to married students at low rates. The buildings were torn down in 2000. Handwritten on negative: Sand Point Housing.Handwritten on sleeve: Seattle - housing projects -…
ID Number:PI23714
Date:1941
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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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