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. The first facilities specifically for military women opened in 1945: a female officers club on First Hill opened in January of that year, and the Seattle Service Women's Club, for enlisted women, opened at 214 University Avenue in early April. This facility, a remodeled 1914 Tudor-style former inn, welcomed "enlisted Wacs, Waves, Spars and Women Marines," with two floors of dormitories, and a lounge and snack bar on the main floor.

This photographic postcard, mailed from WAVE Laura Burnham to her mother in Vermont, shows a group of service men and women relaxing at the snack bar counter of the Seattle Service Women's Club on University Avenue. The woman at left is probably Laura Burnham.

Photo is printed on postcard back, addressed to Mrs. Lisle E. Burnham in Brattleboro, Vermont, return address Laura Burnham PhM 3/C " Waves Bks A, Pier 91, Seattle 99 WA with the note "Another view of the food bar."
Written in different handwriting in upper left corner "Service Women's Ctr // Seattle WA.

Caption information source: Seattle opens Service Men's Club on May 1, 1941. HistoryLink.org Essay 9406 ; Seattle Times, January 13, 1945, p. 3.