Upon the arrival of the Great Northern Railway in Everett in 1893, Seattle’s city center underwent rapid redevelopment, leading to explosive growth. Timber and coal were the city’s primary industries, but fishing, wholesale trade, shipbuilding, and shipping also contributed to its expansion and population growth. As gold was discovered along and near the Klondike River in Canada’s Yukon Territory and Alaska in 1897, Seattle became a boomtown. The city became the premier outfitting point for prospectors because of its proximity to the Klondike and its established shipping lines. Alaska was considered to be the personal property of Seattle and Seattleites for a long time.
The city’s population increased from 3,533 in 1880 to 80,671 at the end of the 19th Century. According to one estimate, Seattle gained 1,000 new residents per month during the first half of 1889; in March alone, there were 500 buildings under construction, most of the wood structures. On June 6, 1889, a devastating fire that leveled the buildings on 116 acres in the city’s business district slowed but did not stop the city’s growth. The fire did not result in fatalities, but it caused millions of dollars’ worth of property damage.
Below are fascinating historical photos that show what Seattle looked like in the late-19th Century. Also, check Seattle in the 1880s and 1870s.
#1 2nd Ave. looking north from Yesler Way, Seattle, 1899
#2 Church choir, 1890
#3 1st Ave. decorated at night, 1899
#4 Celebration honoring volunteers of the First Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Pioneer Square, 1899
#5 Buildings and grounds at Leschi Park on Lake Washington, Seattle, 1890
#6 Eshelman duplex, 1899
#7 2nd Avenue from James Street, looking north, Seattle, 1890
#8 1st Ave., looking north from Pioneer Square, 1890
#9 Central School, Madison Street between 6th Ave. and 7th Ave., 1899
#10 Cherry Street, February 18, 1921
#11 Child standing near Hunters Pride shelter looking across Green Lake from the southeast end, 1896
#12 Bicycle along the Lake Washington bicycle path, 1899
#13 1st Avenue from Cherry St., looking north, Seattle, 1890.
#14 2nd Ave. and Bell Street, 1890
#15 Children bathing in Green Lake, 1895
#16 Building at the end of a pier, possibly Ballard neighborhood, Seattle, October 1890
#17 1st Ave. from about Pike St., 1895.
#18 1st Avenue from Cherry St., looking north, Seattle, 1890
#19 Cigar concession stand in men’s restroom, Westlake Square Comfort Station, September 18, 1917
#20 Colman Block, 811 1st Avenue, 1898
#21 Columbia Street from 1st Ave., looking east, Seattle, 1891
#22 Columbia Street, 1890
#23 Bon Marche, Nordhoff and Co. department store, probably 1896
#24 3rd Ave. from University Street, looking north, Seattle, Washington, 1890
#25 1st Ave. S. looking north from Main St., Seattle, 1899
#26 Bend in the path with bicycle in distance, Seattle, 1897
#27 Bon Marche, Nordhoff and Co. department store, 1896
#28 Covered facility for picnics at Ravenna Park, 1898
#29 Crowds at the waterfront near the foot of University Street, Seattle, 1898
#30 3rd Ave. and Pine St., looking southeast, 1891
#31 Children standing outside I.O.G.T. Hall (International Organization of Good Templars), 1897
#32 Argens and Schuck Gun and Locksmith store, 1896
#33 Art studio interior showing men and women painting, 1890s
#34 Bell’s Hotel, 1898
#35 Businesses at the northeast corner of 1st Ave. and Union St., Seattle, December 13, 1981
#36 Businesses at the northeast corner of 1st Ave. and Union St., Seattle, December 13, 1981
#37 Cable car of the First Avenue Railway Co. on 2nd Ave., 1898
#38 Car 1 of the Rainier Power and Railway Co. with investor David T. Denny, near Lake Union, Seattle, 1891
#39 Coney Island Bathhouse on the beach at Duwamish Head, Summer 1899
#40 Coppin waterworks, 1895
#41 Corliss P. Stone residence at 1120 N. 35th Street, 1891
#42 Housing on First Hill, 1890
#43 Ice skaters on Lake Union, 1890
#44 James Street and Yesler Way from Pioneer Square, 1894
#45 Cooper & Levy store, 104-106 1st Ave. S. near Yesler Way Seattle, 1897
#46 Crowd gathered around dog team near waterfront, Seattle, 1898
#47 Crowd with hose cart at scene of fire, 1895
#48 David Judkins’ house, 522 Depot St. (later Denny Way), Seattle, 1890s
#49 David T. Denny Residence at Republican St. with dog, possibly “Curly,” on the front porch, 1890
#50 Dearborn Street regrade, September 18, 1909
#51 Dredging operation for the Seattle and Lake Washington waterway, July 29, 1895
#52 Eastlake from south Lake Union, 1895
#53 Electric streetcar of the Seattle Consolidated Street Railway, 1894
#54 Electric streetcar of the Seattle Consolidated Street Railway, 1894
#55 Mutual Life Building, 1893
#56 Woman with bicycle on the Lake Washington bicycle path, 1899
#57 View SW from 32nd Avenue, 1898
#58 East side of 1st Ave. between James St. and Cherry Street, Seattle, 1890.
#59 Eighth grade class standing on steps of the Denny School, Seattle, 1899
#60 Exterior of Mayor William D. Wood house, 1890
#61 Fire fighters battling the fire at the Schwabacher Brothers’ building, Seattle, June 27, 1892.
#62 Firloch Club house, 1890
#63 Holyoke Building, Spring St. southeast corner of 1st Ave., 1890
#64 Interior of classroom showing school children seated at desks, 1890
#65 Leschi Park looking toward Lake Washington, 1890
#66 Leschi Park on Lake Washington, Seattle, 1890
#67 Leschi Park Pavilion, 1890.
#68 Madison Street, 1893
#69 Man and woman with baby carriage near front porch of residence at 1428 23rd Ave Seattle, 1890
#70 Montlake Ditch, 1890
#71 Northeast corner of Front and James St., Seattle, showing Henry L. and Sara Yesler on porch of their house, Seattle, 1859
#72 Pioneer Square showing the Pioneer Building, Seattle, 1891
#73 Pioneer Square, March 14, 1899
#74 Pitts Grocery Store, Broadway & E. Pike St., Seattle, 1890
#75 Plummer Block at 3rd Ave. and Union Street, 1891
#76 Reindeer with entrance to Woodland Park in background, Seattle, 1898
#77 Residence, Green Lake district, 1890
#78 Residential area of Seattle looking west, 1899
#79 Sami reindeer herders of the Lapland-Yukon Relief Expedition, 1898
#80 Schoolchildren in front of temporary building for Queen Anne School, top of Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, 1890
#81 Seagrave House, 224 Virginia Street, Seattle, 1890
#82 Seattle city hall and police headquarters, 3rd Ave. south of Jefferson Street, 1896
#83 Seattle National Bank Building, southeast corner of Occidental Ave. and Yesler Way, 1898
#84 Seattle Telegraph newspaper booth, 1890
#85 Seattle, looking east from the waterfront in the vicinity of Pike Street, 1898
#86 Seattle, looking west from the King County Court House, 1894
#87 Sled dogs at corner of Yesler Way and 2nd Ave., 1898
#88 Soule residence garden, 1353 32nd Ave. Sreet, Seattle, 1899
#89 Soule residence porch and garden, 1353 32nd Ave. Street, Seattle, 1899
#90 State Building, corner of S. Main St. and Occidental Ave. S., 1891
#91 Tracks of the Seattle Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad, Lake Samamish, Washington, approximately 1891.
#92 Two women promenading in Madrona Park, Seattle, 1890
#93 1st Ave. south from Columbia Street, 1894
#94 7th Ave. north from near Jefferson Street, 1890
#95 Arthur Denny house, 1890
#96 Brygger Home in Ballard, 1890
#97 Budlong House, 1898
#98 Cascade School, 1893
#99 Construction of Denny Hall, 1895
#100 First car on James St. Line at 12th Ave., 1890
#101 Holy Names Academy at 7th Ave. S. and S. Jackson St., 1898
#102 Interior of Antlers Hotel on Lake Cushman, 1898.
#103 ake Washington, foot of Madison Street, 1890
#104 Madison Park, 1897
#105 Madison Park, 1897
#106 Native American baskets in home of Mabel Thompson, 1900
#107 Old bicycle path, 1895
#108 Outlet of Union Bay, 1893
#109 Pioneer Place decorations, November 1899
#110 Princess Angeline’s House, 1890
#111 Reconstruction following fire from 1st Ave and Yesler Way, June 1890
#112 Reviewing stand decorated for visit of President Benjamin Harrison at 1st Ave. and Yesler Way, May 6, 1891
#113 Seattle Public Library in Yesler Mansion, 1899
#114
#115 South School, 1897
#116 Umbrella Man, 1899
#117 View of reconstruction following fire from 1st Ave. and James Street, July 1890
#118 Wood House on East 72nd St. and East Green Lake Way, 1898
#119 First Baptist Church, 4th Ave. and Cherry Street, 1890s
#120 First house built between Park Junction and Woodland Park, 1899
#121 First Methodist Episcopal Church, Columbia St. and 2nd Ave., 1890
#122 Fremont and Lake Union looking west from Capitol Hill, 1893
#123 Fremont and Lake Union seen from Queen Anne, 1893
#124 Green Lake, 1890s
#125 Guy C. Phinney with group in Woodland Park on road to Green lake, Seattle, 1893
#126 Lake Union and Seattle from the south, 1890
#127 Lake Union from Denny Regrade neighborhood, 1895
#128 Lake Union from Eastlake, 1890s
#129 Looking north on 1st Ave. from James St. showing July 4th parade, Seattle, 1890
#130 Looking north on 1st Ave. from James Street, 1890.
#131 Looking north on 2nd Avenue from Yesler Way, Seattle, Washington, 1890
#132 Looking south from 2nd Ave. and Cherry Street, Seattle, 1890s.
#133 Logging operation showing a sawmill, 1899
#134 Fremont looking north from Queen Anne, 1890s
#135 Fremont lumber mill operation, possibly the Bryant Lumber Mill, 1895
#136 Front Street (now 1st Ave. S.) looking north from James Street, 1897
#137 George Conn, wife, and son Neil standing outside Judge William D. Wood house, 1897
#138 Looking west from 7th Ave. and Columbia St. after a snowfall, Seattle, 1890
#139 Madison St. from vicinity of 1st Ave., 1893
#140 Man in horse-drawn carriage at Woodland Park, 1899
#141 Man with bicycle on the Lake Washington bicycle path, 1899
#142 Man, probably John Soule, on steps of Soule home, 1353 32nd Avenue, 1890s
#143 Mary Soule and her sister Mrs. McAlpin in front of Soule residence, 1353 32nd Ave. S., Seattle, 1899
#144 Men standing near railroad car loaded with large piece of timber for the Chicago World’s Fair, 1893
#145 Menstanding on the first through streetcar on Madison Street, Seattle, 1890
#146 Merry-go-round, West Seattle beach, 1899
#147 Military unit on parade, 1890
#148 Mill at Salmon Bay, 1890s
#149 Moran Brother’s Shipyard showing steamboats for the Klondike under construction, 1898
#150 Moran Brothers Co. shipyards building steamboats for service in the Klondike gold rush, 1898
#151 Neil Conn with bicycle and George Conn with cow standing in front of William D. Wood house, Woodlawn Avenue, 1897
#152 Panorama from Denny Hill, 1890
#153 Panorama looking northwest, 1890
#154 Panorama looking northwest, 1890
#155 Panorama of the waterfront north from Main St., Seattle, 1892.
#156 Passengers aboard the steamer Roanoke leaving for the Klondike from a Seattle dock, June, 1898
#157 Plymouth Congregational Church and 3rd Street, Seattle, 1890
#158 Post Building, northeast corner of Yesler Way and Post St, 1891
#159 Rainier School and school children posed in front of entrance, November 27, 1899
#160 Residence at 5707 Kenwood Place N., 1895
#161 Residence at the northwest corner of NE 45th St. and Brooklyn Avenue, 1898
#162 Revenue cutter McCulloch, 1898
#163 Saloon interior showing men standing at the bar, Occidental Ave. and Washington St., 1895
#164 Schwabacher’s Wharf, foot of Union Street, 1890
#165 Seattle Traction Co. electric pile driver, 1899
#166 Seattle Traction Company car barn at 5th Ave. and Olive St. showing staff and streetcars, 1898
#167 Ships at dock on the waterfront near Pier A at the foot of Washington Street, Seattle, 1897.
#168 Seneca Street, looking toward the waterfront, 1894
#169 Sled dogs in front of Yukon Mining School, 1898
#170 Water tower of Green Lake Station and other buildings on northeast shore of Green Lake, 1896
#171 Waterfront in the vicinity of Main St., Seattle, 1892.
#172 Women with bicycles on the Lake Washington bicycle path, 1899
#173 Woodland Park conservatory, 1896
#174 Woodland Park hunting lodge, 1895
Woodland Park prior to its acquisition by the City of Seattle in 1900. The Hunting Lodge. This was on the slope near the southwest shore of Green Lake, the level of which was considerably higher at that time, the surface extending much nearer to the ledge location than it does now. It was a short distance up the slope back of the Aqua Theater.
#175 Steamer Willamette departing from the crowded Seattle waterfront for the Klondike, 1899
#176 Steamship Valencia leaving Seattle, April 7, 1898
#177 Streetcar at University Way NE and NE 52nd Street, University District, 1897
#178 Two women walking in Woodland Park near Green Lake, 1897
#179 University streetcar north of the bank building, University District, 1891
#180 Independent Order of Good Templars Hall, 1897
#181 2nd Ave. looking south from Pike Street, 1890
#182 3rd Ave. north from University St. towards Washington Hotel,. 1890
#183 3rd home of Seattle Public Library in the Rialto Building, 1896
#184 City of Seattle” steamboat, 1899
#185 Joseph Closset” stern wheeler on Yukon River, 1899
#186 Monterey” gunboat in Port Orchard dry dock, 1896
#187 Walla Walla” steamer, 1898
#188 Alaska Sailing Day at Pier 4, 1898
#189 Antlers Hotel on Lake Cushman, 1899
#190 Beaver totem pole in front of home in Wrangell, Alaska, 1899
#191 Boat loading for Alaska, 1897
#192 Boats docked at Oregon Improvement Company docks, 1890
#193 Brighton School, 1895
#194 Broadway School in Ballard, 1891
#195 Cable powerhouse at 2nd Ave. and Denny Way, 1892
#196 Cattle team and workers on skid road, 1890
#197 Claflin Brothers & Co. in Nome, Alaska, Sept. 28, 1899
The Claflin Brothers store was located on Front St. The cross street is unknown. Gold was discovered in the area in the summer of 1898 prospectors rushed to stake claims and Nome's population quickly ballooned to 10,000 people. In 1899, more gold was discovered on beaches near the town and spurred an even greater rush of visitors. By 1900, an estimated 1000 people a day were arriving in Nome. Pillsbury took some of the first available photographs of the city. Following his departure, the winter conditions made it too difficult for others to reach the area.
#198 Class of South Park School, November 21, 1899
#199 Class of South School, 1890
#200 Class of South School, 1890
#201 Collins Building, 1894
#202 Cordray Theater, 1892
#203 David T. Denny home, 1891
#204 Elephant on parade at Pine St. and 3rd Ave., 1899
#205 Engine House No. 2, 1890
#206 Engine House No. 4, 1899
#207 Expedition returning to Antlers Hotel after trip to Olympic Mountains, 1898
#208 Fir log at Huron Lumber Company’s Bothell camp, 1895
#209 Fire station Engine House No. 2, 1890
#210 First Home of Seattle Public Library, 1891
#211 Fraser and Wilson Store on Pike Street, 1895
#212 Frederick A. MacDonald house, 1895
#213 Greater White Fronted Geese in South Park Pond, 1890
#214 Green Lake and Phinney’s Boathouse from Woodland Park, 1891
#215 Group outside North American Transportation & Trading Company in Circle City, Alaska, 1899
#216 Hans and Nels Nelson at corner of Dock Pl. and Ballard Avenue, 1892
#217 Hotel Seattle, 1894
#218 John Leary house at 208 Madison Street, 1890
#219 John S. Reasoner House, 1893
#220
#221 Logs at Circle City waterfront, Alaska, 1899
#222 Looking south from near 3rd Ave. and Pine Street, 1890
#223 Men and log cabins at Stewart City, Yukon, 1899
#224 Oregon Improvement Company wharf, 1890
#225 Parade at 2nd Ave. and Marion Street, 1899
#226 Parade on 3rd Ave, 1899
#227 Pike St. looking east from 5th Avenue, 1890
#228 Pike St. looking east, 1890
#229 Plummer Building, 1891
#230 Plymouth Congregational Church, 1892
#231 Prospectors and log cabin at Derwent, Alaska, 1899
#232 Scene at the dock during Alaska gold rush, 1898
#233 Seattle Female College, 1893
#234 Seattle National Bank Building, 1890
#235 Seattle National Bank interior, 1890
#236 Seattle Terminal and Railway Elevator Company grain elevator, 1890.
#237 Sixth St. School, 1890
#238 Spanish American War homecoming, November 4, 1899
#239 Temperance Hall on E. 72nd St., 1891
As a temporary measure to meet the growing needs of the 1,000 residents living nearby, in 1901 the school district opened two annexes at Green Lake. The first, about which little is known, was located on the site of the John Marshall school and provided space for two classrooms. The other occupied the two-story I.O.G.T. Hall at today's (1999) NE 72nd Street and 5th Avenue NE, above Baskin & Robbins. This temperance hall was home for three class rooms of second through fifth grade children during the 1901-02 school year.
#240 Territorial University near 4th Ave. and University Street, 1890
#241 rain of Logs at Yesler (Town), 1893
#242 Train with lumber for Columbian Exposition at Columbia St. and Alaskan Way, 1893
#243 View north from 1st Ave. and Cherry St., Seattle, 1890
#244 View north from James Street and Yesler Way, 1891
#245 View south from Seattle coal bunkers, 1890
#246 View south from Queen Anne Hill, 1896
#247 View south from Washington Hotel, 1890
#248 View south on Ballard Avenue, 1891
W.D. Begg Groceries, Fruits, and Provisions appears on the right. The 1891 Ballard City Directory contains the follow entry: ""Begg Wm D, grocer, w s Ballard ave bet 2d and 3d aves, res same."" The Ballard Wine House, located at 2nd Ave. and Ballard Ave. is visible in the distance on the left.
Really incredible! Much larger and more cosmopolitan than I had imagined!