Visitors to Seattle in the early years of the 20th century could purchase panoramic images of the city to send to friends or keep as souvenirs. This postcard, with its hand-colored image, shows the bustling harbor and city.
In the foreground, left to right, are a “mosquito fleet” steamer on its way across Puget Sound, a small launch, a freighter, a passenger liner, another steamer, and a military vessel. The vessels may have been added by the photographer. The most prominent building on shore is the Smith Tower at the center of the image. The tower of the King County Courthouse can be seen to its immediate left. Also visible to the left are the twin towers of St. James Cathedral; the cathedral had lost its dome in 1916. King Street Station’s tower is to the right, as well as the green trees of Beacon Hill. Brown shipyard buildings can be seen below the hill.
Printed on image: Copyright Frank H. Nowell Printed beneath image: Panorama View of Seattle Waterfront
Printed on verso: The Port of Seattle: Has a tidal frontage of 53 miles; commercial, 40 miles; residential, parks and boulevards, 13 miles. Non-tidal frontage, 100 miles; commercial, 48 miles; residential, parks and boulevards, 52 miles. Has a deep-water harbor; average depth at the docks, 35 feet at low tide. Free harbor, no pilotage fees, etc. Export and Import Business: During the year 1917, 27,000 vessels arrived and departed, transporting 4,850,000 tons of foreign and domestic commerce, valued at $600,000,000. Second port in the United States in foreign and domestic commerce. Public Docks: The Port of Seattle Commission since 1913 has expended approximately $6,000,000 in providing adequate facilities for commerce. Public terminal improvements comprise six groups of port utilities. These terminals provide 562,999 net square feet, and 1,126,000 net square feet of unroofed storage. Ten miles of public railway tracks serve the terminals and industrial property of the district. The terminals provided 11,355 feet of new berthing space. Approximately one-0thire of the water-borne commerce is handled by the Public Terminal Facilities and accommodates more than one-half of the Trans-Pacific freights, imported and exported.
Physical Description: 1 postcard : color ; 35.75 x 5.75 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
