Seattle Room
Have you ever wondered what life in Seattle was like for the average person in 1890 or 1910 or 1930? The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Seattle Room at the Central Library contains many resources and special collections that provide a window into everyday life in Seattle throughout the city’s history.
Highlights of the Seattle Room
Hours, Location and Access
The Seattle Room is located on Level 10 of the Central Library. It is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Friday through Monday.
Seattle Collection
The Seattle Collection contains items about our city’s history. Along with city documents, local newspaper archives and thousands of photographs of historic Seattle, the collection also includes oral histories, postcards, maps and atlases, restaurant menus, yearbooks from every Seattle high school, and many works by local artists.
Special Collections Online
Many of our special collections are now online, which makes it even easier to find information about Seattle’s rich history. Whether you are interested in learning about the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, or the development and growth of the Pike Place Market, it is all at your fingertips.