Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. Seattle’s massive effort to regrade and flatten much of the city’s hilly landscape is documented in this 1905-1908 photo album. Explore our map to see the modern-day photo locations.
View of regrade north from Madison St., ca. 1906
View north to regrade steam shovel at work on Spring St. between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Piper and Taft Sporting Goods and Hotel George appear in the background.
Identifier: spl_dr_026
Date: 1906
View this itemRegrade spectators, ca. 1906
Men watching regrade work from unidentified location.
Identifier: spl_dr_019
Date: 1906
View this itemRegrade railway and steam shovel, ca. 1906
Possible location is near the site of the Washington Hotel. Although the regrade started in 1903, James Moore, the owner of the hotel, refused to clear the property until 1906 when regrading of Second and Third Avenues were well underway.
Identifier: spl_dr_012
Date: 1906
View this itemView of regrading from 2nd Ave. and Lenora St., ca. 1905
The Washington Hotel is pictured at the top of Denny Hill. Although the regrade started in 1903, James Moore, the owner of the hotel, refused to clear the property until 1906 when regrading of Second and Third Avenues were well underway.
Identifier: spl_dr_011
Date: 1905
View this itemMen guiding water jets for regrade work, ca. 1906
Workers guiding hydraulic jets and regrade runoff at unidentified location.
Identifier: spl_dr_010
Date: 1906
View this itemDenny Regrade, ca. 1906
Water jets and building being deconstructed at unidentified regrade location.
Identifier: spl_dr_013
Date: 1906
View this itemUW Tower on Brooklyn Ave., ca. 1990s
Originally constructed as the Safeco Tower building, it was later renamed to UW Tower after its purchase by the University of Washington in 2006. A hotel can be seen in the background: opened as the Edmond Meany Hotel in 1931, it has also been called the Meany Tower Hotel, the University Tower Hotel, Hotel Deca, and Graduate Seattle.
Identifier: spl_dor_00050
Date: 1995
View this itemView north along 2nd Ave. from the 11th floor of the Exchange Building, January 21, 1982
Built in 1930, the Exchange Building is located on 2nd Ave. View north shows several downtown buildings, Elliot Bay, and the Space Needle.
Identifier: spl_dor_00051
Date: 1982-01-21
View this itemDenny Regrade, ca. 1906
Unidentified regrade location.
Identifier: spl_dr_006
Date: 1906
View this item