The Great Fire of June 6, 1889, was a significant turning point in Seattle's history and changed both the physical and political landscapes of the city. The fire started at 2:30 p.m. in a paint and woodwork shop at Front Street (now First Avenue) and Madison Street and over the course of the next 18 hours swept a southward across 100 acres of Seattle's business district and waterfront. The fire left little standing in its wake, consuming buildings, docks, wooden sidewalks, and anything else combustible. Losses from the conflagration were estimated at $20 million. Reconstruction after the fire, the arrival of the railroads, and the Klondike Gold Rush all contributed to tripling Seattle's population over the next decade.

This image taken by a bystander appears to have been taken shortly after the fire started as many buildings are still intact.

Inscription on verso: "The start of the great fire in Seattle June 6/89. It burnt 90 acres of the business heart of the city. I saw it. A. J. Smith"

Caption information source: https://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/exhibits-and-education/digital-document-libraries/the-great-seattle-fire-of-18