Seattle Historical Photograph Collection
Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. More than 2,000 images reveal Seattle’s evolution. Early photos capture Seattle’s pioneers, the Great Fire of 1889 and the Denny Regrade along with historical buildings, streets and landmarks.
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Woodland Park entrance lodge, 1891
Transcribed from photograph: "Parks. Woodland park. Entrance lodge. 1891. At that time private estate of Guy Phinney."
Identifier: spl_shp_14683
Date: 1891
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Seattle from Elliott Bay, 1878
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle Views. From Elliott Bay. 1878. Showing Front St. from Madison St. to Columbia St. after regrade."
Identifier: spl_shp_22926
Date: 1878
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318 Roy St., 1957
Transcribed from photograph: "Houses. 318 Roy Street. Exterior. Wood. Front view. (Proposed site of Seattle Center) Photo by Werner Lenggenhager, 1957."
Identifier: spl_shp_22390
Date: 1957
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The Summit apartment building, 1953
Transcribed from photograph: "Apartments. “The Summit” 118 Madison Ave."
Identifier: spl_shp_35036
Date: 1953-03
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Confederate War Veteran's Memorial, ca. 1955
Transcribed from photograph: "Monuments. Confederate War veteran's memorial. Lakeview Cemetery."
Identifier: spl_shp_20003
Date: 1955
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Pacific Builder and Engineer, v. 5, no. 52, Dec. 28, 1907
Page 13 article discusses planning of the Lake Washington Ship Canal route.
Identifier: spl_pbe_3022043_1907_05_52
Date: 1907-12-28
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Lowman Building, 1907
Transcribed from photograph: "Buildings. Lowman building. First Ave. and Cherry St. 1907. 1. Alaska building. 2. Railway Exchange building."
Identifier: spl_shp_14659
Date: 1907
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John J. McGilvra house, 1870
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle Houses. McGilvra, John J. Exterior. Laurel Shade Road. Built 1864; destroyed by fire 1933. 1870." Laurel Shade Road can be seen in the 1905 and 1912 Baist Atlases. It runs along the present-day path of 43rd Ave. E.
Identifier: spl_shp_22913
Date: 1870
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Columbia and Puget Sound Coal Bunker Trestle, 1883
Transcribed from photograph: "Wharves. Columbia and Puget Sound coal bunker trestle. Foot of King Street. 1883. Machine shop at end of trestle."
Identifier: spl_shp_5200
Date: 1883
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King County Central Blood Bank, 1947
Transcribed from photograph: "Buildings. King County central blood bank. Exterior. 1947. St. James Towers in background. Modern. Naramore, Bain, Brady & Johanson, and Joseph Wohleb, architects."
Identifier: spl_shp_20013
Date: 1947