By the late nineteenth century, the city of Seattle was a vibrant cultural center of the West. Fueled by the lumber industry, the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, and the shipbuilding and aeronautics industries, the city’s economic history embraces cycles of boom and bust. Through changing fortunes, Seattle has continued to grow and prosper by overcoming adversity and maintaining the strong, independent culture of its citizens.

Historic Photos of Seattle captures this journey through still photography selected from the finest archives. From the Great Fire to the World’s Fair, the Space Needle to Pike Place Market, Historic Photos of Seattle follows life, government, education, and events throughout the city’s history.

This volume captures unique and rare scenes through the lens of hundreds of historic photographs. Published in striking black and white, these images communicate historic events and everyday life of two centuries of people building a unique and prosperous city.