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 Buildings and grounds at Leschi Park on Lake Washington, Seattle, 1890
#4 Eshelman duplex, 1899
#5 2nd Avenue from James Street, looking north, Seattle, 1890
#6 1st Ave., looking north from Pioneer Square, 1890
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Reconstruction after the great fire in 1899.
#7 Cherry Street, February 18, 1921
#8 Bicycle along the Lake Washington bicycle path, 1899
#9 1st Ave. decorated at night, 1899
#10 Celebration honoring volunteers of the First Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Pioneer Square, 1899
#11 Central School, Madison Street between 6th Ave. and 7th Ave., 1899
#12 Child standing near Hunters Pride shelter looking across Green Lake from the southeast end, 1896
#13 Children bathing in Green Lake, 1895
#14 Building at the end of a pier, possibly Ballard neighborhood, Seattle, October 1890
#15 1st Avenue from Cherry St., looking north, Seattle, 1890.
#16 1st Avenue from Cherry St., looking north, Seattle, 1890
#17 2nd Ave. and Bell Street, 1890
#18 Cigar concession stand in men’s restroom, Westlake Square Comfort Station, September 18, 1917
#19 Colman Block, 811 1st Avenue, 1898
#20 Columbia Street from 1st Ave., looking east, Seattle, 1891
#21 Columbia Street, 1890
#22 Bon Marche, Nordhoff and Co. department store, probably 1896
#23 3rd Ave. from University Street, looking north, Seattle, Washington, 1890
#24 1st Ave. from about Pike St., 1895.
#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 View SW from 32nd Avenue, 1898
#56 East side of 1st Ave. between James St. and Cherry Street, Seattle, 1890.
#57 Eighth grade class standing on steps of the Denny School, Seattle, 1899
#58 Exterior of Mayor William D. Wood house, 1890
#59 Fire fighters battling the fire at the Schwabacher Brothers’ building, Seattle, June 27, 1892.
#60 Firloch Club house, 1890
#61 Holyoke Building, Spring St. southeast corner of 1st Ave., 1890
#62 Interior of classroom showing school children seated at desks, 1890
#63 Leschi Park looking toward Lake Washington, 1890
#64 Leschi Park on Lake Washington, Seattle, 1890
#65 Leschi Park Pavilion, 1890.
#66 Madison Street, 1893
#67 Man and woman with baby carriage near front porch of residence at 1428 23rd Ave Seattle, 1890
#68 Montlake Ditch, 1890
#69 Mutual Life Building, 1893
#70 Residential area of Seattle looking west, 1899
#71 Soule residence garden, 1353 32nd Ave. Sreet, Seattle, 1899
#72 Soule residence porch and garden, 1353 32nd Ave. Street, Seattle, 1899
#73 Woman with bicycle on the Lake Washington bicycle path, 1899
#74 Tracks of the Seattle Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad, Lake Samamish, Washington, approximately 1891.
#75 Two women promenading in Madrona Park, Seattle, 1890
#76 7th Ave. north from near Jefferson Street, 1890
#77 Arthur Denny house, 1890
#78 Brygger Home in Ballard, 1890
#79 Budlong House, 1898
#80 Cascade School, 1893
#81 Construction of Denny Hall, 1895
#82 First car on James St. Line at 12th Ave., 1890
#83 Holy Names Academy at 7th Ave. S. and S. Jackson St., 1898
#84 ake Washington, foot of Madison Street, 1890
#85 Madison Park, 1897
#86 Madison Park, 1897
#87 Native American baskets in home of Mabel Thompson, 1900
#88 Old bicycle path, 1895
#89 Outlet of Union Bay, 1893
#90 Pioneer Place decorations, November 1899
#91 Princess Angeline’s House, 1890
#92 Reconstruction following fire from 1st Ave and Yesler Way, June 1890
#93 Reviewing stand decorated for visit of President Benjamin Harrison at 1st Ave. and Yesler Way, May 6, 1891
#94 Seattle Public Library in Yesler Mansion, 1899
#95
#96 South School, 1897
#97 Umbrella Man, 1899
#98 Wood House on East 72nd St. and East Green Lake Way, 1898
#99 First Baptist Church, 4th Ave. and Cherry Street, 1890s
#100 First house built between Park Junction and Woodland Park, 1899
#101 First Methodist Episcopal Church, Columbia St. and 2nd Ave., 1890
#102 Fremont and Lake Union looking west from Capitol Hill, 1893
#103 Fremont and Lake Union seen from Queen Anne, 1893
#104 Green Lake, 1890s
#105 Guy C. Phinney with group in Woodland Park on road to Green lake, Seattle, 1893
#106 Lake Union and Seattle from the south, 1890
#107 Lake Union from Denny Regrade neighborhood, 1895
#108 Lake Union from Eastlake, 1890s
#109 Looking north on 1st Ave. from James St. showing July 4th parade, Seattle, 1890
#110 Looking north on 1st Ave. from James Street, 1890.
#111 Looking north on 2nd Avenue from Yesler Way, Seattle, Washington, 1890
#112 Looking south from 2nd Ave. and Cherry Street, Seattle, 1890s.
#113 Logging operation showing a sawmill, 1899
#114 Fremont looking north from Queen Anne, 1890s
#115 Fremont lumber mill operation, possibly the Bryant Lumber Mill, 1895
#116 Front Street (now 1st Ave. S.) looking north from James Street, 1897
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This building burned down in the 1889 fire.
#117 George Conn, wife, and son Neil standing outside Judge William D. Wood house, 1897
#118 Looking west from 7th Ave. and Columbia St. after a snowfall, Seattle, 1890
#119 Madison St. from vicinity of 1st Ave., 1893
#120 Man in horse-drawn carriage at Woodland Park, 1899
#121 Man with bicycle on the Lake Washington bicycle path, 1899
#122 Man, probably John Soule, on steps of Soule home, 1353 32nd Avenue, 1890s
#123 Mary Soule and her sister Mrs. McAlpin in front of Soule residence, 1353 32nd Ave. S., Seattle, 1899
#124 Men standing near railroad car loaded with large piece of timber for the Chicago World’s Fair, 1893
#125 Menstanding on the first through streetcar on Madison Street, Seattle, 1890
#126 Merry-go-round, West Seattle beach, 1899
#127 Military unit on parade, 1890
#128 Mill at Salmon Bay, 1890s
#129 Moran Brother’s Shipyard showing steamboats for the Klondike under construction, 1898
#130 Moran Brothers Co. shipyards building steamboats for service in the Klondike gold rush, 1898
#131 Neil Conn with bicycle and George Conn with cow standing in front of William D. Wood house, Woodlawn Avenue, 1897
#132 Northeast corner of Front and James St., Seattle, showing Henry L. and Sara Yesler on porch of their house, Seattle, 1859
#133 Panorama from Denny Hill, 1890
#134 Panorama looking northwest, 1890
#135 Panorama looking northwest, 1890
#136 Panorama of the waterfront north from Main St., Seattle, 1892.
#137 Passengers aboard the steamer Roanoke leaving for the Klondike from a Seattle dock, June, 1898
#138 Pioneer Square showing the Pioneer Building, Seattle, 1891
#139 Pioneer Square, March 14, 1899
#140 Pitts Grocery Store, Broadway & E. Pike St., Seattle, 1890
#141 Plummer Block at 3rd Ave. and Union Street, 1891
#142 Plymouth Congregational Church and 3rd Street, Seattle, 1890
#143 Post Building, northeast corner of Yesler Way and Post St, 1891
#144 Rainier School and school children posed in front of entrance, November 27, 1899
#145 Reindeer with entrance to Woodland Park in background, Seattle, 1898
#146 Residence at 5707 Kenwood Place N., 1895
#147 Residence at the northwest corner of NE 45th St. and Brooklyn Avenue, 1898
#148 Residence, Green Lake district, 1890
#149 Revenue cutter McCulloch, 1898
#150 Saloon interior showing men standing at the bar, Occidental Ave. and Washington St., 1895
#151 Sami reindeer herders of the Lapland-Yukon Relief Expedition, 1898
#152 Schoolchildren in front of temporary building for Queen Anne School, top of Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, 1890
#153 Schwabacher’s Wharf, foot of Union Street, 1890
#154 Seagrave House, 224 Virginia Street, Seattle, 1890
#155 Seattle city hall and police headquarters, 3rd Ave. south of Jefferson Street, 1896
#156 Seattle National Bank Building, southeast corner of Occidental Ave. and Yesler Way, 1898
#157 Seattle Telegraph newspaper booth, 1890
#158 Seattle Traction Co. electric pile driver, 1899
#159 Seattle Traction Company car barn at 5th Ave. and Olive St. showing staff and streetcars, 1898
#160 Seattle, looking east from the waterfront in the vicinity of Pike Street, 1898
#161 Seattle, looking west from the King County Court House, 1894
#162 Ships at dock on the waterfront near Pier A at the foot of Washington Street, Seattle, 1897.
#163 Seneca Street, looking toward the waterfront, 1894
#164 Sled dogs at corner of Yesler Way and 2nd Ave., 1898
#165 Sled dogs in front of Yukon Mining School, 1898
#166 Water tower of Green Lake Station and other buildings on northeast shore of Green Lake, 1896
#167 Waterfront in the vicinity of Main St., Seattle, 1892.
#168 Women with bicycles on the Lake Washington bicycle path, 1899
#169 Woodland Park conservatory, 1896
#170 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.
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#171 State Building, corner of S. Main St. and Occidental Ave. S., 1891
#172 Steamer Willamette departing from the crowded Seattle waterfront for the Klondike, 1899
#173 Steamship Valencia leaving Seattle, April 7, 1898
#174 Streetcar at University Way NE and NE 52nd Street, University District, 1897
#175 Two women walking in Woodland Park near Green Lake, 1897
#176 University streetcar north of the bank building, University District, 1891
#177 Independent Order of Good Templars Hall, 1897
#178 1st Ave. south from Columbia Street, 1894
#179 2nd Ave. looking south from Pike Street, 1890
#180 3rd Ave. north from University St. towards Washington Hotel,. 1890
#181 3rd home of Seattle Public Library in the Rialto Building, 1896
#182 City of Seattle” steamboat, 1899
#183 Joseph Closset” stern wheeler on Yukon River, 1899
#184 Monterey” gunboat in Port Orchard dry dock, 1896
A near view of the gunboat Monterey in the dry dock at Port Orchard, 10 miles from Seattle on opposite side of Puget Sound. This is taken looking toward the stern of the boat. The Port Orchard Dry Dock mentioned in the caption is likely the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
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#185 Walla Walla” steamer, 1898
#186 Alaska Sailing Day at Pier 4, 1898
#187 Antlers Hotel on Lake Cushman, 1899
#188 Beaver totem pole in front of home in Wrangell, Alaska, 1899
#189 Boat loading for Alaska, 1897
#190 Boats docked at Oregon Improvement Company docks, 1890
#191 Brighton School, 1895
#192 Broadway School in Ballard, 1891
#193 Cable powerhouse at 2nd Ave. and Denny Way, 1892
#194 Cattle team and workers on skid road, 1890
#195 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.
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#196 Class of South Park School, November 21, 1899
#197 Class of South School, 1890
#198 Class of South School, 1890
#199 Collins Building, 1894
#200 Cordray Theater, 1892
#201 David T. Denny home, 1891
#202 Elephant on parade at Pine St. and 3rd Ave., 1899
#203 Engine House No. 2, 1890
#204 Engine House No. 4, 1899
#205 Expedition returning to Antlers Hotel after trip to Olympic Mountains, 1898
#206 Fir log at Huron Lumber Company’s Bothell camp, 1895
#207 Fire station Engine House No. 2, 1890
#208 First Home of Seattle Public Library, 1891
#209 Fraser and Wilson Store on Pike Street, 1895
#210 Frederick A. MacDonald house, 1895
#211 Greater White Fronted Geese in South Park Pond, 1890
#212 Green Lake and Phinney’s Boathouse from Woodland Park, 1891
#213 Group outside North American Transportation & Trading Company in Circle City, Alaska, 1899
#214 Hans and Nels Nelson at corner of Dock Pl. and Ballard Avenue, 1892
#215 Hotel Seattle, 1894
#216 Interior of Antlers Hotel on Lake Cushman, 1898.
#217 John Leary house at 208 Madison Street, 1890
#218 John S. Reasoner House, 1893
#219
#220 Logs at Circle City waterfront, Alaska, 1899
#221 Looking south from near 3rd Ave. and Pine Street, 1890
#222 Men and log cabins at Stewart City, Yukon, 1899
#223 Oregon Improvement Company wharf, 1890
#224 Parade at 2nd Ave. and Marion Street, 1899
#225 Parade on 3rd Ave, 1899
#226 Pike St. looking east from 5th Avenue, 1890
#227 Pike St. looking east, 1890
#228 Plummer Building, 1891
#229 Plymouth Congregational Church, 1892
#230 Prospectors and log cabin at Derwent, Alaska, 1899
#231 Scene at the dock during Alaska gold rush, 1898
#232 Seattle Female College, 1893
#233 Seattle National Bank Building, 1890
#234 Seattle National Bank interior, 1890
#235 Seattle Terminal and Railway Elevator Company grain elevator, 1890.
#236 Sixth St. School, 1890
#237 Spanish American War homecoming, November 4, 1899
#238 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.
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#239 Territorial University near 4th Ave. and University Street, 1890
University of Washington now the site of the Olympic Hotel. A rare from from the immediate front. Throndike. The Territorial University operated at this location from 1861 to 1895 at which point they moved to the site of the current University of Washington campus.
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#240 rain of Logs at Yesler (Town), 1893
#241 Train with lumber for Columbian Exposition at Columbia St. and Alaskan Way, 1893
#242 View north from 1st Ave. and Cherry St., Seattle, 1890
#243 View north from James Street and Yesler Way, 1891
#244 View of reconstruction following fire from 1st Ave. and James Street, July 1890
#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.
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#249 Waterfront at foot of Union Street, 1896
Location appears to be closer to the base of Union St. Vulcan Iron Works (located between University and Union Streets) appears at the left with the Arlington Hotel (located at 1215 1st Ave.) behind it. The Arlington Dock and Golden Rule Bazaar appear at the right.
What is on top of those large polls?
Telegraph lines. Needed individual wires back then for each line.