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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Frederick & Nelson, ca. 1965
Transcribed from postcard: "Frederick & Nelson, Fifth at Pine, Seattle. Ten floors of modern beauty! Popular rendezvous for Seattleites and visitors to the city. Eighth floor Tea Room overlooks downtown area. Two smart suburban stores: Bellevue and Aurora Village."
Identifier: spl_pc_00223
Date: 1965?
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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_00818
Date: 1910?
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St. James Cathedral, ca. 1910
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_00308
Date: 1910?
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Cherry St. east from 1st Ave., ca. 1907
The 110 Cherry Building (also known as the Scheuerman Building, completed in 1903) appears on the left side of the street. The Bailey Building (completed in 1892), Western Union office and the Alaska Building (completed in 1904) appear on the right. The streetcar at the center of the image includes a Bon Marche advertisement.
Identifier: spl_pc_00227
Date: 1907?
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King Street Station, ca. 1909
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_01004
Date: 1909?
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King Street Station, ca. 1906
Transcribed from postcard: "The Union Station accommodates more than sixty trains daily, running over rails of eight great railway systems. The tower is 240 feet high." During the early 1900's, there was an increasing press to connect railways with the city of 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 not constructed until 1911. 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. The back of the postcard provides the following description: "The Union Station accommodates more than sixty trains daily, running over the rails of eight great railway systems. The tower is 240 feet high." (Alternative names for Union Station include the Union Depot and the Northern Pacific Great Northern Depot.) 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_01001
Date: 1906?
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New Washington Hotel, ca. 1930
Transcribed from postcard: "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_00802
Date: 1930?
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Hotel Frye, ca. 1911
The Frye Hotel opened in 1911. Transcribed from postcard: "European. Fireproof. Now open. Seattle's newest fireproof and most conveniently located hotel in city, corner Yesler Way and Third Avenue. Moderate rates. Room with detached bath $1.00 to $1.50, room with private bath $1.50 to $3.00. R.E. Nixon, Manager."
Identifier: spl_pc_00816
Date: 1911?
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St. James Cathedral, November 15, 1909
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_00307
Date: 1909-11-15
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Seattle Railway Depots and Southern Business District, Seattle, Washington, April 15, 1940
View looking north of Seattle Railway Depots and downtown Seattle. King Street Station (with the tower) appears on the left and Union Station appears on the right. Smith Tower can be seen in the background.
Identifier: spl_pc_01000
Date: 1940-04-15
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