• Visit
    • Museum Accessibility
    • Community Access
    • Group Visits and Tours
    • Programs
      • History Café
      • MOHAI Mercantile Literary Series
      • First Thursday
      • Denny Lecture
      • Al Young Educator of the Year
      • Everyday Heroes
    • MOHAI Mercantile
    • Gourmondo at MOHAI
  • Exhibits
  • Events
  • Collections and Research
    • Collections Search
    • Themed Collections
    • Research Library
    • Image Ordering
    • Donate an Artifact
    • Curator’s Fellowship
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Membership at MOHAI
    • Gift Memberships
    • Corporate Support
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • Self-Guided School Year Explorations
      • Creating Our Community
      • Cracking the History Code: Salish Stories
      • Cracking the History Code: Settling Around the Sound
      • Hands on History
      • Self-Guided Summer Field Trips
      • Homeschool Group
    • Portable Museum Program
    • Scholarships
    • Education FAQ
    • Primary Source Analysis
    • Online Curricula
    • Teen Programs
    • Idea Lab
    • Discovery Packs
    • Summer Camps
  • About
    • Annual Reports
    • The MOHAI Blog
    • Contact MOHAI
    • Opportunities
    • Leadership
    • Private Events
  • Donate
  • Tickets
  • Membership
HomeCollections and ResearchCollections Search

Collections Search

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.

MOHAI Statement on Harmful Content

Search by Collection

Not finding what you are looking for?
Ask the MOHAI Collections Staff

653 results for: Urban

Share:
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Century 21 Exposition fairgrounds and Magnolia, Seattle, January 9, 1962
Photograph

Aerial view of the construction of the Century 21 Exposition fairgrounds and Magnolia, Seattle, January 9, 1962

The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World's Fair) ran from April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962. Nearly 10 million people attended the fair. As planned, the exposition left behind a fairground and numerous public buildings and public works; some credit it with revitalizing Seattle's economic and cultural life. The site, slightly expanded since the fair, is…
ID Number:2009.23.508
Date:1962
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Century 21 Exposition fairgrounds, Seattle, February 11, 1962
Photograph

Aerial view of the construction of the Century 21 Exposition fairgrounds, Seattle, February 11, 1962

The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World's Fair) ran from April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962. Nearly 10 million people attended the fair. As planned, the exposition left behind a fairground and numerous public buildings and public works; some credit it with revitalizing Seattle's economic and cultural life. The site, slightly expanded since the fair, is…
ID Number:2009.23.520
Date:1962
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Westlake monorail station, Seattle, March 9, 1962
Photograph

Aerial view of the construction of the Westlake monorail station, Seattle, March 9, 1962

The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World's Fair) ran from April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962. Nearly 10 million people attended the fair. As planned, the exposition left behind a fairground and numerous public buildings and public works; some credit it with revitalizing Seattle's economic and cultural life. The site, slightly expanded since the fair, is…
ID Number:2009.23.543
Date:1962
Image of Removal of Chief Si'ahl (Chief Seattle) statue for cleaning before the Century 21 Exposition, Seattle, 1962
Photograph

Removal of Chief Si'ahl (Chief Seattle) statue for cleaning before the Century 21 Exposition, Seattle, 1962

The Chief Si'ahl (Chief Seattle) statue is an outdoor life-size sculpture by local artist James Wehn, installed at Tilikum Place Park, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, Denny Way, and Cedar Street in Seattle. Si'ahl (c. 1786-1866), known to settlers as Chief Seattle, became the leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish people sometime around 1810. When settlers started moving to…
ID Number:2009.23.603
Date:1962
Image of Memorial Stadium refurbishment for the Century 21 Exposition, Seattle, circa 1962
Photograph

Memorial Stadium refurbishment for the Century 21 Exposition, Seattle, circa 1962

This photograph was taken circa 1962, during the refurbishment of Memorial Stadium for the Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World's Fair). The stadium was the venue for much of the opening ceremonies for the Fair, which was attended by nearly 10 million people and ran from April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962. This site, previously known…
ID Number:2009.23.610
Date:Circa 1962
Image of Second Avenue during paving, Seattle, circa 1915<br />circa 1915
Photograph

Second Avenue during paving, Seattle, circa 1915
circa 1915

The financial district or central business district of downtown Seattle has several buildings that remain standing from the early twentieth century. Visible in this image is the Smith Tower, at 506 Second Avenue on the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Yesler Way. The 38-story building was completed in 1914, and remained Seattle's tallest building until the Space Needle overtook…
ID Number:2009.55.46.67
Date:Circa 1915
Image of Street repair at 12th Avenue and Spring Street, Seattle, July 12, 1916
Photograph

Street repair at 12th Avenue and Spring Street, Seattle, July 12, 1916

This view of the First Hill neighborhood shows a crack that developed in the concrete base beneath brick paved road at 12th Avenue and Spring Street. Repairs were overseen by the Seattle City Engineer's Department. Handwritten on negative: Photo taken 7/12/16. 12th Ave. at Sprint St. Break in Concrete BaseStamped on verso: Frank H. Nowell, 1212 Fourth Ave., Seattle, U.…
ID Number:2009.55.46.75
Date:1916
Image of Man smoothing wet concrete on 10th Avenue NE, Seattle, September 28, 1921
Photograph

Man smoothing wet concrete on 10th Avenue NE, Seattle, September 28, 1921

This paving project on 10th Avenue NE (Roosevelt Way) near NE 61st Street was likely overseen by the Seattle City Engineer's Department.James P. Lee (1894-1963) was the City of Seattle's Engineering Department photographer from 1922-1957. Photographer's number: 4565
ID Number:2009.55.46.106
Date:1921
Image of Carpet design for renovation of Century 21 Opera House, circa 1961
Drawing

Carpet design for renovation of Century 21 Opera House, circa 1961

This hand-painted design for a carpet, with color specifications noted, is titled "Seattle World's Fair" and designed by B. Marcus Priteca and James Chiarelli. As part of the planning for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair (Century 21 Exposition), architects Priteca and Chiarelli worked together on the conversion of the existing Civic Auditorium at 225 Mercer Street into the Seattle Opera…
ID Number:2010.3.36
Date:Circa 1961
Image of Alki Avenue with railroad tracks and flour mill, Seattle, February 19, 1913
Photograph

Alki Avenue with railroad tracks and flour mill, Seattle, February 19, 1913

In the winter of 1913, the Seattle-based hydraulic contracting firm Lewis, Wiley & Morse began work on a regrade, fill and seawall project along Alki Avenue in West Seattle. The construction continued through 1913 and was completed in the spring of 1914. The project involved a hydraulic hillside regrade near the intersection of Fairmount Avenue and Alki Avenue. A new…
ID Number:2010.3.32.7
Date:1913
Previous 1 … 45 46 47 48 49 … 66 Next

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
  • Plan a Visit
  • Directions and Parking
  • Accessibility
  • Group Tours
  • About

Sign up to Receive our Newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright 2026, Museum of History & Industry. All Rights Reserved