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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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200 results for: European American Settlement

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Image of Cherry Street in over five feet of snow, 1880
Photograph

Cherry Street in over five feet of snow, 1880

Over five feet of snow fell on Seattle in early January 1880. The city wasn't used to such heavy snow. Schools closed, trains didn't run, and the city's activities ground to a halt.This photo was taken on January 10th, 1880 after the great snow. It shows the view up Cherry Street from First Avenue towards First Hill. Notes: Original copy…
ID Number:1983.10.6267
Date:1880
Image of Locomotive A.A. Denny, circa 1880
Photograph

Locomotive A.A. Denny, circa 1880

Seattle's first railroad, the Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad, was built to carry coal from the mines east of Lake Washington to the Seattle waterfront. The narrow-gauge railroad's first locomotive was named the "A.A. Denny" in honor of one Seattle's founders, Arthur A. Denny. In 1880, the railroad became the Columbia and Puget Sound Railway.This photo, taken around 1880, shows…
ID Number:1983.10.6275
Date:Circa 1880
Image of First Avenue and Spring Street, Seattle, circa 1911
Photograph

First Avenue and Spring Street, Seattle, circa 1911

Amos Brown (1833-1899) was an prominent Seattle lumberman and real estate owner in the late 1800s. He built the family house featured at the center of this photograph around 1870 after his marriage. The house survived the Great Seattle Fire, and other buildings and businesses were built around it, until the house's demolition in 1914. Signs in image: Grand Pacific.…
ID Number:1983.10.6280
Date:Circa 1911
Image of First railroad depot in Seattle, circa 1880
Photograph

First railroad depot in Seattle, circa 1880

Seattle's first railway station stood near where King Street Station stands today. At that time, much of the land in that part of the city was still underwater at high tide, and the tracks of the Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad ran over the tidelands on wooden trestles. This photo, taken about 1880, shows the depot, sometimes called the Columbia…
ID Number:1983.10.6284
Date:Circa 1880
Image of King Street railroad yard, Seattle, circa 1883
Photograph

King Street railroad yard, Seattle, circa 1883

In 1881, the Oregon Improvement Company expanded the King Street Coat Wharf with a new trestle, along with two new docks and warehouses. This new wharf was the end point of the Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad, where cargo was loaded into ships. Original photo copied by Webster & Stevens.Handwritten on sleeve: Eng. House of Columbia & Puget Sound RR,…
ID Number:1983.10.6322
Date:Circa 1883
Image of Doc Maynard's former home,  circa 1880
Photograph

Doc Maynard's former home, circa 1880

Dr. David Maynard was one of Seattle's early white settlers. After living in Seattle for several years, he returned to live in the area of the original settlement at Alki Beach.This photo, taken about 1880, shows Maynard's West Seattle dwelling. When the photo was copied by Webster & Stevens sometime after 1902, the house was said to be Seattle's oldest…
ID Number:1983.10.6326
Date:Circa 1880
Image of Henry and Sarah Yesler residence, Seattle, circa 1860
Photograph

Henry and Sarah Yesler residence, Seattle, circa 1860

In this photo, taken around 1860, Sarah Yesler, the wife of mill owner Henry Yesler, stands on the front porch of their white house. Some trees remain from the dense forest which originally covered the area. The elevated wooden flume which carried water to the city from a hillside spring is towards the right side of the picture.This is said…
ID Number:1983.10.6331
Date:Circa 1860
Image of Seattle's downtown before the Great Fire, 1883
Photograph

Seattle's downtown before the Great Fire, 1883

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 around 1884, shows the intersection of Commercial Street (now First Avenue South) and Main…
ID Number:1983.10.6343
Date:1883
Image of Western Mill and southern Lake Union, circa 1885
Photograph

Western Mill and southern Lake Union, circa 1885

Pioneer David Denny owned the land south of Lake Union. In 1882, he opened the Western Mill on the lake's southern shore. A small community soon grew up around the lumber mill. By the end of the 1880s, streetcars and roads had been built as the area was settled.In this photo, taken around 1885 by Theodore Peiser, the Western Mill…
ID Number:1983.10.6380
Date:Circa 1885
Image of View of Enumclaw, Washington, circa 1905
Photograph

View of Enumclaw, Washington, circa 1905

Enumclaw, Washington, is located on the plateau between the Green and White Rivers. The town was platted in 1884, and the Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad came through in 1885. Enumclaw quickly became a boomtown of lumber mills and farms. Residents supplied timber and produce to the nearby mining towns of Black Diamond and Franklin.This photo shows a view of…
ID Number:1983.10.7423
Date:Circa 1905
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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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