The area south of downtown Seattle was originally made up of tidal flats; soil dredged from the Duwamish River and sluiced from the Denny triangle and Beacon Hill regrades was used to create this industrial area needed by area businesses and railroads.
This image, taken between 1890-1900, shows what much of Seattle's waterfront looked like before the tidal flats were filled in. The view is facing northwest towards First Hill; the peninsula at the top left of the frame is now Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood. Also visible in this image are some of the raised streets and sidewalks that were built after 100 acres of the city's business district was destroyed in the 1889 Great Fire.
Photographer's number: 645
Signs in image: Arctic Oil Works; Readman's Warehouse; Schwabacher Bros & Co Importers; General Arthur Cigars; Royal Dutch Cocoa; Dr. John Wright, Dentist; W. A. Chong Tea Store; Seattle Central Hotel
Physical Description: 1 photographic print mounted on cardboard: b&w ; 7.5 x 9.5 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.
