Seattle Historical Photograph Collection
Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. More than 2,000 images reveal Seattle’s evolution. Early photos capture Seattle’s pioneers, the Great Fire of 1889 and the Denny Regrade along with historical buildings, streets and landmarks.
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View north from 1st Ave. and Cherry, 1870
Transcribed from front of photograph: "Streets. Front Street [1st Ave.]. 1870. Looking North from Cherry Street. 1. Intelligencer building. 2. L. A. Treen shoe store. 3. S. L. Benjamin book store." Transcribed from back of photo: "F. W. Wald, hardware. Reinig store (agent for Singer sewing machines). Over Reinig's, Puget Sound Business College. Left side: Intelligencer building. Treen & Co. shoe store. S.L. Benjamin book store."
Identifier: spl_shp_5174
Date: 1870
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Baseball team on the stairs of the Emerson Building in Ballard, ca. 1900
Transcribed from photograph: "Ballard Baseball Team." Team appears to be on the stairs of the same building that appears in spl_shp_40020 where it is identified as the Emerson Building in Ballard.
Identifier: spl_shp_40023
Date: 1910
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University Branch, Seattle Public Library, ca. 1922
Transcribed from photograph: "University Branch opened in 1910."
Identifier: spl_shp_40002
Date: 1922
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View west from 2nd Ave., 1915
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle Views. From 2nd Ave. (Aerial view). 1915. Looking southwest toward Elliott Bay."
Identifier: spl_shp_21691
Date: 1915
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Houses on 411-417 9th Ave. N., 1951
Transcribed from photograph: "Houses. 411-417 9th Ave. North. Ca. 1900. Exterior. Wood. Front View. 1951. Photo by Werner Lenggenhager. Row-house, Victorian style."
Identifier: spl_shp_20021
Date: 1951
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NW corner of Seneca St. and Minor Ave., 1958
Transcribed from photograph: "Houses. Northwest corner of Seneca St. and Minor Ave. Exterior. Wood. Three-quarter view. Photo by Werner Lenggenhager, 1958."
Identifier: spl_shp_22433
Date: 1958
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"Negative Round" by Rita Kepner, 1971
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle. Sculpture Kepner, Rita. 1944- . Negative round. 1965-66. African wonderstone. View 2. Seattle Public Library. Photo & gift of Werner Lenggenhager, 1971."
Identifier: spl_shp_35063
Date: 1971
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Rialto Building, ca. 1920
Transcribed from photograph: "Buildings. Rialto building. Second Ave. and Spring St. Built 1892. About 1920. Demolished 1949."
Identifier: spl_shp_15273
Date: 1920?
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Victorian style residence at 3820 Airport Way, ca. 1950
Transcribed from photograph: "Houses. Victorian style residence at 3820 Airport Way."
Identifier: spl_shp_20085
Date: 1950?
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Harbor Island, 1969
Transcribed from photograph: "Seattle Waterfront. 1969. Looking east over Elliott Bay. Ship “Hawaiian Farmer” in foreground. 1969. Photo by Ray Atkeson."
Identifier: spl_shp_22203
Date: 1969
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