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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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415 results for: Entertainment

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Image of Woman feeding cake to serviceman, Seattle, December 1941
Photograph

Woman feeding cake to serviceman, Seattle, December 1941

During World War II, thousands of service men and women served in or passed through Seattle. A number of recreation and temporary stay facilities provided entertainment and services for military personnel visiting the city, such as the large USO facility in the remodeled Rialto Building, opened in 1943. In this image, Sergeant Charles Damm is fed a slice of cake…
ID Number:PI28207
Date:1941
Image of Women and servicemen dancing at the Naval Reserve Armory, Seattle, December 1942
Photograph

Women and servicemen dancing at the Naval Reserve Armory, Seattle, December 1942

Built on the former site of a Duwamish village, the Naval Reserve Armory was announced in 1937 but trouble with funding delayed completion of the project for several years. The Armory was designed by B. Marcus Priteca, a well-known theater architect, and William R. Grant. The Works Progress Administration, one of the New Deal agencies, constructed the building. Groundbreaking occurred…
ID Number:PI28212
Date:1942
Image of Women and servicemen dancing at the Naval Reserve Armory, Seattle, December 1942
Photograph

Women and servicemen dancing at the Naval Reserve Armory, Seattle, December 1942

Built on the former site of a Duwamish village, the Naval Reserve Armory was announced in 1937 but trouble with funding delayed completion of the project for several years. The Armory was designed by B. Marcus Priteca, a well-known theater architect, and William R. Grant. The Works Progress Administration, one of the New Deal agencies, constructed the building. Groundbreaking occurred…
ID Number:PI28213
Date:1942
Image of Attendees decorating dance floor at USO, Seattle, December 26, 1947
Photograph

Attendees decorating dance floor at USO, Seattle, December 26, 1947

During World War II, thousands of service men and women served in or passed through Seattle. In 1941 the Service Men's Club opened, providing free stationery, game rooms, dorms, and showers, and free or low cost snacks and meals. By 1945 Seattle had 13 additional service and recreation clubs, including the large United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) Club in the…
ID Number:PI28227
Date:1947
Image of Crowd watching Charles K. Hamilton at The Meadows, Georgetown, March 11, 1910
Photograph

Crowd watching Charles K. Hamilton at The Meadows, Georgetown, March 11, 1910

Pioneer aviator Charles Keeney Hamilton (1881 or 1885-1914) became the first to fly in the state of Washington when he piloted his Curtiss biplane, the Reims Racer, over Seattle on March 11, 1910. Nicknamed "the bird man" and "crazy man of the air," Hamilton survived over 60 crashes. In this image Hamilton and his plane can be seen above the…
ID Number:SHS349
Date:1911
Image of Seattle's downtown before the Great Fire, Seattle, 1883
Photograph

Seattle's downtown before the Great Fire, Seattle, 1883

n the 1880s, Seattle's business district was near Pioneer Square. Loggers, miners, and others came to this part of the city to find work, supplies, and entertainment. Others came to Seattle to attend the Territorial University, which stood on a hill above the city.This photo, taken around 1884, shows the intersection of Commercial Street (now First Avenue South) and Main…
ID Number:SHS470
Date:1880
Image of Commercial Street in snow, Seattle, January 10, 1880
Photograph

Commercial Street in snow, Seattle, January 10, 1880

In the 1880s, Seattle's business district was near Pioneer Square. Loggers, miners, and others came to this part of the city to find work, supplies, and entertainment. Others came to Seattle to attend the Territorial University, which stood on a hill above the city .This photo, taken in 1880, shows the intersection of Commercial Street (now First Avenue South) and…
ID Number:SHS613
Date:1880
Image of Pike Street, looking east from west of Second Avenue, Seattle, 1904
Photograph

Pike Street, looking east from west of Second Avenue, Seattle, 1904

By the first decade of the 20th century, Seattle's current downtown retail core had moved north from Pioneer Square. The Bon Marche Department Store's second location at Second Avenue and Pike Street had expanded, adding two floors above its original street level.In this image, a crowd gathers on a sunny summer afternoon to enjoy a band playing at an unidentified…
ID Number:SHS643
Date:1904
Image of Grand Opera House, Seattle, circa 1910
Photograph

Grand Opera House, Seattle, circa 1910

Seattle’s Grand Opera House, at 213-217 Cherry Street, was designed by Edwin H. Houghton, a prominent Pacific Northwest theater designer. Owned by John Cort, the theater stood at the northern end of Seattle’s entertainment district. It was the city’s most important live theater when built, but its popularity declined as the city expanded northwards. It became a movie theater, and…
ID Number:SHS1107
Date:Circa 1910
Image of Game of slahal on a Puget Sound beach, circa 1884
Photograph

Game of slahal on a Puget Sound beach, circa 1884

Slahal, also called the bone game, is one of many games played by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. A team member held up their hands, each of which contained a small bone, and the members of the opposite team tried to guess if a marked bone was in the right or left hand. Slahal often also involved gambling between…
ID Number:SHS3488
Date:Circa 1884
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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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