Seattle Historic Postcard Collection
Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. Highlights of early 20th century Seattle, as depicted through our historic postcards. Cards include images of buildings, attractions and events from the 1900s to the 1960s along with messages between friends and family.
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New Washington Hotel, ca. 1930
Transcribed from postcard: "In the heart of the theatrical and shopping district. Seattle's leading commercial & tourist hotel, all rooms with private bath. Tariff $3.00 per day and up. J.C. Marmaduke, Manager H.R. Warner. Ass't. Manager."
Identifier: spl_pc_00802
Date: 1930
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Unidentified residential street, April 7, 1911
Image of unknown residential street and houses. Similar postcards from this time period depict Capitol Hill homes.
Identifier: spl_pc_00603
Date: 1911-04-07
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Seattle Municipal News, v. 31, no. 42, Nov. 22, 1941
Identifier: spl_mn_198039_31_42
Date: 1941-11-22
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4th Ave. and University St., ca. 1915
The White-Henry-Stuart Building (constructed 1908-1915 and demolished in 1974) appears on the right and the Cobb Building (completed in 1910) appears on the left.
Identifier: spl_pc_00203
Date: 1915
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Olympic Hotel, ca. 1925
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, originally the Olympic Hotel, was built in 1924 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Identifier: spl_pc_00814
Date: 1925
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St. James Cathedral, ca. 1928
Bishop Edward O'Dea purchased the land for St. James Cathedral's First Hill site in 1903 after successfully petitioning the Pope to relocate the episcopal see from Vancouver, Washington to Seattle. The cornerstone for the building was laid in 1905 with more than 5,000 people in attendance and the cathedral officially opened on December 15, 1907.
Identifier: spl_pc_00310
Date: 1928
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Washington Hotel, ca. 1905
The Washington Hotel (originally called the Denny Hotel) as it appeared at its location on 4th Avenue and Stewart Street before the Denny Regrade. Construction of The Denny Hotel started in 1889 but was stopped with only the exterior completed when the Panic of 1893 hit. James A. Moore purchased the property, renaming it the Washington Hotel, but was only able to operate it for a short time before the Denny Regrade forced it to close. The initial regrade lasted from 1902 to 1911 and sluiced much of the land that the hotel originally stood on down into Elliott Bay.
Identifier: spl_pc_00826
Date: 1905
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Carroll's Fine Jewelry, ca. 1970
Transcribed from postcard: "Carroll's Fine Jewelry. Thomas J. Carroll founded his store in Seattle in 1895 during the Gold Rush days. Through the years, four generations of the Carroll family have served the jewelry needs of their many customers and friends with integrity and pride in the jewelers art. This stately green and gold street clock, a landmark in Seattle, stands at the doorway of the store still owned and operated by Carroll family members."
Identifier: spl_pc_00233
Date: 1970
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St. James Cathedral, ca. 1907
Bishop Edward O'Dea purchased the land for St. James Cathedral's First Hill site in 1903 after successfully petitioning the Pope to relocate the episcopal see from Vancouver, Washington to Seattle. The cornerstone for the building was laid in 1905 with more than 5,000 people in attendance and the cathedral officially opened on December 15, 1907.
Identifier: spl_pc_00304
Date: 1907
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Scottish Rite Cathedral at Broadway and Harvard Ave., ca. 1911
Street view of the Scottish Rite Cathedral which was once located at the corner of Broadway and Harvard. Building construction cost $65,000 and was completed in 1911 under the supervision of architect Frank Allen. The building served as a meeting place for freemasons in the Seattle area. The Scottish Rite group moved to a new building in the 1960's at 1155 Broadway East but that building has since also been demolished.
Identifier: spl_pc_00315
Date: 1911