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.
Seattle Room Appointments
The Seattle Room is open by appointment only.
Appointments are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. You may book 30 minutes to 2 hours of time. There are 4 work stations available in the Seattle Room.
During your appointment you will have access to the Seattle Room collection. Special Collections Librarians will be on hand to assist you with your research needs.
At this time, the Seattle Room is not available for tours, large groups, or private showings. Please contact Special Collections Librarians with questions or other Seattle Room related inquiries through via Ask Us.
How Seattle Room Appointments Work
Submit the form to select your appointment time and tell us what kind of help you need.
We will contact you to schedule your appointment.
Seattle Room staff will assist you in the Seattle Room for your 30-120 minute appointment.
Please submit the form at least 24 hours before your requested appointment time. Walk-up appointments can be accommodated as space allows; please visit an Information Desk at the Central Library for details.
Appointment Request Form
Highlights of the Seattle Room Video
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: The Potlatch Festival Video
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.