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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White and Henry Buildings., ca. 1915
Located at 1318 4th Avenue, the White-Henry-Stuart Building actually consists of three buildings constructed by the Howells and Stokes architecture firm during the period between 1908 and 1915. It was part of the Metropolitan Tract plan which provided office and retail space for the downtown area in the space formerly occupied by the University of Washington's downtown campus. The building was torn down in 1974 to make way for the Rainier Square complex.
Identifier: spl_pc_00221
Date: 1915?
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Perry Apartments, ca. 1909
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_00806
Date: 1909
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The Story of Hooverville, in Seattle, 1935
Typescript of memoir written by Jesse Jackson, the "mayor" of Seattle's Hooverville, a homeless encampment which stood from 1931 to 1941 at the site of the former Skinner and Eddy Shipyard in Seattle's industrial district. This typescript was presented to The Seattle Public Library by the author.
Identifier: spl_saw_2718576
Date: 1935
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City Hall Park, Frye Hotel and Smith Tower, ca. 1915
Street view of City Hall Park, Frye Hotel, the King County Courthouse and Smith Tower. The Frye Hotel was constructed in 1911 and designed by the architects Charles H. Bebb and Louis L. Mendel. The project was funded by Seattle pioneer George F. Frye and his wife Louisa Denny Frye, for whom the hotel is named. The hotel was converted to low income housing in the 1970s. The Smith Tower opened in 1914 and was the tallest building in Seattle until the construction of the Space Needle in 1962. The tower was designed by the Gaggin and Gaggin architectural firm. The King County Courthouse opened in 1916 and was constructed by architect A. Warren Gould. Additional stories were eventually added to the five story structure seen here during renovations in the 1930s.
Identifier: spl_pc_00214
Date: 1915?
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4th Ave. and University St., ca. 1915
The White-Henry-Stuart Building (constructed 1908-1915 and demolished in 1974) appears on the right and the Cobb Building (completed in 1910) appears on the left.
Identifier: spl_pc_00203
Date: 1915?
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New Hotel Washington, ca. 1909
Transcribed from postcard: "The New Washington is Seattle's largest fashionable hotel, the finest in the Northwest. It is, however, but one of many of the elegant hosteleries [sic] in the City."
Identifier: spl_pc_00824
Date: 1909?
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Providence Hospital, ca. 1911
Between 1907 and 1912, Seattle's Providence Hospital built a large new brick building, at a cost of one million dollars. Designed by Somervell & Cote, it was a full-service hospital with six operating rooms and a nursing school.
Identifier: spl_pc_00904
Date: 1911
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A Summer Home at Alki Point Washington, 1906
View of West Seattle residence at Alki Point with people posed on the front porch.
Identifier: spl_pc_00602
Date: 1906
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Central Building, ca. 1907
Designed by C.R. Aldrich, the Central Building was completed in 1907. At the time of construction, 3rd Ave. was being regraded to establish a more gentle slope and allow a retail core to take hold in the downtown area. The Central Building served several purposes, providing much needed office space for businesses.
Identifier: spl_pc_00231
Date: 1907?
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View east from James St. and Yesler Way, ca. 1915
Transcribed from postcard: "Looking up James Street at the left. Yesler Way at the right from Pioneer Square. Showing the 42 Story L.C. Smith Building Seattle, U.S.A." The Seattle Hotel, which appears in the center of the image, was constructed in 1890. It replaced the Occidental Hotel which burned down in the fire of 1889. In 1891, the building served as home to the Seattle Public Library and was converted into an office building in the early 1900's. By 1961, the building was abandoned and later torn down and replaced with a parking garage. This instigated a historic preservation movement in the Pioneer Square area to preserve other historic buildings before they could be demolished. The Smith Tower, which appears in the background, was constructed in 1914 by the architecture firm Gaggin and Gaggin. It was the tallest building in Seattle until the construction of the Space Needle in 1962.
Identifier: spl_pc_00213
Date: 1915?
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