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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Pike Place Market ink drawing or screenprint
Drawing or screenprint depicting Pike Place Market at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Pike Street.
Identifier: spl_ps_022
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Capitol Hill, from Queen Anne Hill, January 6, 1907
Aerial view of Capitol Hill taken from Queen Anne.
Identifier: spl_pc_00605
Date: 1907-01-06
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Union Station interior, ca. 1915
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 (the interior of 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. Confusingly, both stations were sometimes referred to as "union stations" or "union depots" 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_01008
Date: 1915?
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Benjamin Franklin Hotel, ca. 1929
The Benjamin Franklin Hotel was built in 1929. It was designed by architect Gardner J. Gwinn and featured 14 stories with 359 rooms. It was demolished in 1980 to make way for the second tower of the Westin Hotel.
Identifier: spl_pc_00801
Date: 1929?
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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_00225
Date: 1905?
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Bungalow Magazine, v. 2, no. 12, Dec. 1913
J.M. Waller home on Hunter Boulevard S. in Seattle featured on pages 13-21. Exact location unknown. Five Dayton Avenue bungalows featured on pages 29-38 of December 1913 issue including: Charles M. and Frances L. Simmons at 6727 Dayton Ave N Seattle, WA 98103; Jas. G. and Maude L. Pollock at 6723 Dayton Ave N Seattle, WA 98103; and Mrs. J.W. Seuss at 6713 Dayton Ave N Seattle, WA 98103.
Identifier: spl_bm_531811_1913_2_12
Date: 1913-12
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David Wagner tokes a joint, Jack Large studio, Pike Place Market, July 1967
David Wagner tokes a joint
Identifier:
Date: 1967-07
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Seattle-Tacoma Airport, ca. 1950
Transcribed from postcard: "The new $11,000,000 Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, now serving the United States, Alaska and the Orient."
Identifier: spl_pc_00407
Date: 1950?
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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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1st Ave., birdseye view including Mount Rainier and Smith Tower, looking south from Bell St., January 1967
From Belltown, toward Mt Rainier
Identifier:
Date: 1967-01
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