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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Clark's Northgate Menu
Part of the Clark's restaurant chain, founded by Walter Clark, with 22 restaurants all across Seattle, Portland, Tacoma and Yakima. Opened in the early 1950's. Clark sold the chain to Campbell Soup Company in 1970. The family eventually bought back their favorite, The Red Carpet, and renamed it "Gene's Red Carpet Restaurant."
Identifier: spl_menu_00184
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King Street Station, ca. 1911
During the early 1900s, there was increasing interest in connecting railroads with Seattle. The high demand and competition between railways resulted in two railway stations being built directly next to each other at 4th Avenue and Jackson Street. King Street Station (which is depicted in this postcard) was constructed in 1906 and can be distinguished by its tower. Union Station, originally known as the Oregon and Washington Station, was constructed in 1911. (Alternative names for Union Station include the Union Depot and the Northern Pacific Great Northern Depot.) Confusingly, both stations were sometimes referred to as "union stations" due to the fact that multiple railroad lines were shared within the same terminal. For a good example of the differences between Union Station and King Street Station see spl_pc_01011 where Union Station appears in the foreground and King Street Station appears in the background.
Identifier: spl_pc_01013
Date: 1911
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Residences on Capitol Hill, ca. 1905
Street view of residences on Capitol Hill.
Identifier: spl_pc_00606
Date: 1905?
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Welsh Presbyterian Church, July 19, 1907
Transcribed from postcard: "Welsh Presbyterian Church-10th Ave. N. and John St., Seattle, Wash., J. Michael Hughes, Pastor." The first Seattle Welsh Presbyterian Church was originally built in 1893 on Olive Way. As the congregation expanded, they needed a larger space and soon built a new structure in 1907 at 10th Ave. N. and E. John Street. The postcard includes a photograph of J. Michael Hughes who served as the church's pastor between 1891-1894 and 1905-1912.
Identifier: spl_pc_00324
Date: 1907-07-19
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Elk's Hall at 4th Ave. and Spring St., ca. 1912
Street view of Elk's Hall on Fourth Ave. and Spring Street.
Identifier: spl_pc_00503
Date: 1912?
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New Washington Hotel, ca. 1909
Transcribed from spl_pc_00802: "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_00823
Date: 1909?
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King Street Station, ca. 1906
During the early 1900s, there was increasing interest in connecting railroads with Seattle. The high demand and competition between railways resulted in two railway stations being built directly next to each other at 4th Avenue and Jackson Street. King Street Station (which is depicted in this postcard) was constructed in 1906 and can be distinguished by its tower. Union Station, originally known as the Oregon and Washington Station, was constructed in 1911. (Alternative names for Union Station include the Union Depot and the Northern Pacific Great Northern Depot.) The postcard captioning can be confusing because both stations were sometimes referred to as "union stations" due to the fact that multiple railroad lines were shared within the same terminal. For a good example of the differences between Union Station and King Street Station see spl_pc_01011 where Union Station appears in the foreground and King Street Station appears in the background.
Identifier: spl_pc_01002
Date: 1906?
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Federal Building at 3rd Ave. and Union St., ca. 1910
Street view of the Federal Building in downtown Seattle with the White-Henry-Stuart Building and the Pantages Theatre in the background. Construction on the Federal Building (also known as the U.S. Court House, Custom House and Post Office) began in 1903 and ended in 1908. The building was located at the intersection of Union Street and Third Avenue, which was being regraded at the time. The Third Avenue regrade left a gap of four feet down to the new sidewalk which resulted in a new set of stairs being added to the building's exterior. The building was demolished in 1958.
Identifier: spl_pc_00413
Date: 1910?
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Hotel Lincoln, 1904
Hotel Lincoln was constructed in 1900 at the corner of 4th Avenue and Madison Street. The hotel was destroyed in a fire in 1920.
Identifier: spl_pc_00804
Date: 1904
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Smith Tower, ca. 1914
Transcribed from spl_pc_00215: "Second Ave and the 42 Story L.C. Smith Bldg. Seattle. U.S.A. Eight elevators-two serving the tower. Six hundred Offices. Six stores. Telegraph office on first Floor. Barber Shop, Restaurant, Buffet in Basement, Thirty-fifth Floor furnished in Washington Fir used as an observatory. Exterior, Washington Granite for first two floors; above white glazed terra cotta. Cost: $1,500,000." Smith Tower was constructed in 1914.
Identifier: spl_pc_00212
Date: 1914
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