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.
-
Bow Lake Trailer Town, ca. 1960
Transcribed from postcard: "18050 32nd Ave., So. Ch 4 4755. Across U.S. 99 from Sea-Tac International Airport. Mobile living as its best. The only 5 star park in the northwest."
Identifier: spl_pc_00101
Date: 1960?
View this item -
Alaska Building, ca. 1910
The Alaska Building, constructed between 1903 and 1904, was the first building in Seattle to be built with a steel frame. At 14 stories high, it was the tallest building in Seattle until the construction of the Hoge Building in 1911.
Identifier: spl_pc_00206
Date: 1910?
View this item -
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?
View this item -
Perry Hotel, ca. 1910
Located at Madison Street and Boren Avenue, the Perry Hotel, also known as the Perry Apartments, was built in 1907. In 1916, the building was renovated to become the Columbus Sanitarium and renamed once again to Cabrini Hospital in the 1960s. The building was demolished in 1996.
Identifier: spl_pc_00817
Date: 1910?
View this item -
-
Olympic Hotel, ca. 1930
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, originally the Olympic Hotel, was built in 1924. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Identifier: spl_pc_00809
Date: 1930?
View this item -
Illustrated Pike Place Market shopping bag
Illustrated, white paper shopping bag with illustrations in black depicting Pike Place Market scenes.
Identifier: spl_ps_025
View this item -
Medical Dental Building, ca. 1925
The Medical Dental Building was constructed in 1925 and expanded in 1950. Initial plans for expansion during the 1930s were put on hold due to the Great Depression. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006
Identifier: spl_pc_00901
Date: 1925?
View this item -
Villa Academy, ca. 1977
Sacred Heart's Villa. Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Currently called Villa Academy.
Identifier: spl_pc_00303
Date: 1977?
View this item -
Plymouth Congregational Church, March 21, 1932
Transcribed from postcard: "Plymouth Congregational Church was founded in 1870 and moved to its third location, depicted here at 6th Avenue and University Street, after construction was completed in 1912." The building was demolished in 1966.
Identifier: spl_pc_00325
Date: 1932-03-21
View this item