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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Summit Ave. and Marion St., ca. 1910
View of residence at Summit Avenue and Marion Street on First Hill.
Identifier: spl_pc_00601
Date: 1910?
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Hotel Butler, ca. 1905
The original Butler Block building was a three story wooden structure that was constructed around 1875. This building burned in the fire of 1889 but was quickly replaced with a more substantial stone structure. The Butler Hotel or Hotel Butler began operation in the building in 1903, attracting many visitors and gaining a reputation during Prohibition for ignoring the laws against alcohol. The Great Depression forced the hotel to close its doors in 1933 and now all that remains are the lower two floors of the building which were converted into a parking garage.
Identifier: spl_pc_00815
Date: 1905?
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Seattle Freeway, ca. 1970
Transcribed from postcard: "A magnificent aerial view of Seattle from the North. From the two-level Freeway Bridge (U.S. Highway 5) which crosses over the University Bridge and leads the traffic toward downtown one sees Lake Union in the foreground and Elliot Bay in the distance. In the upper center stands the 640-foot Space Needle with its eye looking toward West Seattle."
Identifier: spl_pc_00003
Date: 1970?
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Pacific Builder and Engineer, v. 4, no. 41, Oct. 13, 1906
Page 3 article includes photograph of Three Tree Point Park.
Identifier: spl_pbe_3022043_1906_04_41
Date: 1906-10-13
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St. James Cathedral, ca. 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_00311
Date: 1909?
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Alaska Building, ca. 1905
The Alaska Building, constructed between 1903 and 1904, was the first building in Seattle to be built with a steel frame. At 14 stories high, it was the tallest building in Seattle until the construction of the Hoge Building in 1911.
Identifier: spl_pc_00226
Date: 1905?
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Wes the math teacher sits on stump near Deer Lake, Olympic National Park, September 1967
Wes the math teacher sits on stump in Olympic National Park, near Deer Lake
Identifier:
Date: 1967-09
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Federal Building at 3rd Ave. and Union St., ca. 1910
Street view of the Federal building in downtown Seattle (also known as the U.S. Court House, Custom House and Post Office). Construction on the Federal Building 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_00406
Date: 1910?
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U.S. Court House, Custom House and Post Office, Seattle, Washington.
Construction on Seattle's Third Avenue post office (also known as the U.S. Court House, Custom House and Post Office) was 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_00411
Date: 1908?
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Creek running by campsite near Deer Lake inlet, Olympic National Park, September 1967
Creek running by campsite near Deer Lake inlet, Olympic National Park
Identifier:
Date: 1967-09
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