As Seen From the Smith Tower

Seattle's Smith Tower's Observation Deck and Chinese Room have not been open to the public since  December 4, 2014 according to their calendar here. They are presently closed for renovation. There is no date posted for when they expect to reopen. If you have any "intell" when that will happen,  please comment!
From Wikipedia:

Completed in 1914, the 38-story, 484 ft (148 m) tower is the oldest skyscraper in the city and was the tallest office building west of the Mississippi River until the Kansas City Power & Light Building was built in 1931. It remained the tallest building on the West Coast until the Space Needle overtook it in 1962.

For decades, the Smith Tower's observation deck was a favorite vantage point. Check out these old post cards.


"Second Avenue in the business District, as seen from the top of the 42 Story L. C. Smith Building, Seattle, U. S. A." 
#3,000 Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, U. S. A. Copyrighted 1913 by Frank H. Nowell. R-40703 C. T. American Art


"Looking up Second Ave. from Smith Tower, Seattle." 
16126 Pub. by The Puget Sound News Co., Seattle, Wash


"Harbor and Second Ave. from Smith Building, Seattle, Washington" 
#1756 Edward H. Mitchell, Publisher San Francisco


"Portion of Seattle and Elliott Bay. Queen Anne Hill and Olympic Mountains in Distance." 
107872 C. T. American Art Colored. 3014 Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, U. S. A. mailed 1927


2070:-"A Partial View of Seattle, Wash" 
Photo by Asahel Curtis 1930s?



"Seattle Skyline. Viewed from the 42 story Smith Tower. Seattle's Financial district forms the foreground with the waterfront and uptown districts forming a background" 
C-59 Ektachrome by Larrie Seifert. General Natural Color. Made by Dexter Press, Inc., West Nyack. N. Y. Pub. By J. Boyd Ellis, Arlington, Wash." It appears the Alaskan Way viaduct is under construction so I'd date this about 1953.


"Seattle, Washington. From Smith Tower's observation platform 35 stories high, is seen this view of busy Seattle, Washington's major city. On the left is a portion of Puget Sound and waterfront." Natural Color from Kodachrome. Mike Roberts Color Production Berkeley 2, California. Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle C971. Postcard mailed June 1954


"Seattle, Washington. Looking North from Smith Observation Tower." 
P3789. Plastichrome by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc., Boston 15, Mass., USA, Color by Roger Dudley. Pub. by Smith's Scenic Views, Tacoma, Washington


"HARBOR FREEWAY, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON" 
NEW PROCESS COLORCARD  - SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. NATURAL COLOR REPRODUCTION - CURTEICHCOLOR ART-CREATION REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. 7C-K306 (I'd love to find a better photo of that Rainier Beer billboard in the foreground!)


"Seattle, Washington - From Smith Tower's observation platform, 35 stories high, is seen this view of busy Seattle, Washington's major city. On the left is a portion of Puget Sound and waterfront. In center is new Norton Bldg."
Color photo by Max R. Jensen


"Seattle Skyline as viewed from atop the 42 story Smith Tower. The financial district is in the foreground while on the left may be seen the Alaskan Way viaduct which carries through traffic along the waterfront. Lake Union is on the far right."
Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis. Published by Ellis Post Card Co., Arlington, Washington 33275-B. C-59 Made by Dexter West Nyack, NY.  I believe that black building that appears in this view is the Norton Building which was completed 1959 so I believe this postcard is between 1959-1962

The Kalakala

Her nickname was "The Silver Slug". Some thought she was ugly. Kalakala means "Flying Bird" in the Chinook jargon.

From Wikipedia

She was constructed in 1926 as Peralta for the Key System's ferry service on San Francisco Bay. On 6 May 1933 Peralta burned as a result of an arson fire at the terminal where she was moored, resulting in the complete destruction of her superstructure. The hull was still intact and on 12 October 1933 the vessel was sold to the Puget Sound Navigation Company (PSNC), also known by its marketing name, the "Black Ball Line". PSNC funded a refit at Lake Washington Shipyards in Houghton, Washington (since annexed to Kirkland) to restore the vessel as a ferry.

In November 1934, William Thorniley, publicist for PSNC and president of the Olympic Peninsula Travel Association, named the new ferry Kalakala . . .

She made runs mostly between Seattle and Bremerton from 1935-1967.  I know she also made runs from Port Angeles to Victoria, BC as well.

Before the Space Needle, The Kalakala and The Smith Tower were considered THE Seattle icons.

"World's First Streamlined Motor Ferry M. S. Kalakala ~ Seattle, Wash." Ellis 1002. Mailed January 1945


"The World Famous M. F. Kalakala leaving the Seattle harbor on one of its many daily trips to Bremerton Washington." C5681 Ektachrome by Max R. Jensen Natural color by Mike Roberts Berkeley 2, Calif. Published by C. P. Johnston Company. Seattle, Washington

After she was retired as a ferry, she was used as a fish cannery in Alaska.  When she was retired from there, she was looking pretty injured and towed back to Puget Sound in 1998. She's been at a couple of different docks including Lake Union and then the last ten years she has been rotting and rusting in Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma and was considered an eyesore by many. There were plans to restore her to her Art Deco glory days and turn her in to a party venue or museum.

A few days after the Seattle Seahawks made their incredible all-hope-seemed-lost-come-from-behind win to earn the NFC spot in Super Bowl XLIX, the Kalakala was scrapped.  No last-minute miracle like the Seahawks for her. On Thursday January 22, 2015 she was slowly towed to the graving yard for scrapping.  I would love to purchase a small piece of Seattle history and even emailed the demolition company to inquire but I think they've been getting a lot of the similar requests.

My growing postcard collection includes several of the Kalakala so in tribute, please enjoy this unique structure. It will be a seek-and-find in some of them :-)


"Motor Ferry 'KALAKALA' World's first streamlined vessel in service between Seattle and Bremerton, Wash. on Puget Sound. (Kah-Lock-al-lah, Chinook for Flying Bird) is the world's first completely Streamlined Motor Ferry. The hull is divided into twenty-five water-tight compartments, making it virtually unsinkable, length over all 276 feet, beam over all 55.8 feet, passenger capacity 2,000, automobile capacity 110, has 5 decks, horsepower main engine 3,000, cruising speed 18 knots. The Kalakala is designed primarily to meet the needs of steadily increasing passenger and automobile traffic on Beautiful Puget Sound." C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, Washington. 1C-P1990 Genuine Curteich - Chicago


"Seattle Skyline, Washington. In the foreground may be seen the all-metal ferry Kalakala while at the extreme right is the 42-story Smith Tower." Plastichrome by Colourpicture, Boston 15, Mass., ASA. Color by Lee Merrill, Tacoma, Wash. Pub. by Smith Scenic Views, Tacoma, Washington."


52 "Kalakala, Leaving Seattle Harbor on Moonlight Cruise" Chas. R. Laidlaw - Aerophoto 6A-H386 "C.T. Art Colortone" 


"Union Oil Company's Natural Color Scenes of the West. Seattle, a major Pacific Coast port and gateway to Alaska and the Orient. Tour the West this year with 76 gasoline"


"Seattle, Washington. This aerial view shows a portion of Elliott Bay, the waterfront, metropolitan area, Space Needle in the distance, Lake Union at upper right and the new freeway borders the far right of the picture. Color by Bud Kimball. Plastichrome by ColourPicture Boston, Mass. 02130"


"The Harbor Tourist - loaded with sightseers on a tour of Seattle's fascinating waterfront. No visit to this city is complete without this most enjoyable cruise." C-183 Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea Pub. by Ellis Post Card Co., Arlington, Wash. Made by Dexter West Nyack, N. Y. 39536-B


"At sunset on the Alaska Way Viaduct at Seattle, Washington. The Viaduct makes it possible to pass non-stop through the downtown business district. Docks and ships are very spectacular from the viaduct." Ektachrome by Max R. Jensen.

The Hyak was built in 1967 - the Kalakala was retired as a ferry in 1967 - they're both in this postcard.

"Seattle Waterfront - Seattle Washington This view shows the Waterfront from Ye Olde Curiosity Shop north to Magnolia Bluff. Known as 'The Gateway to the Orient,' Seattle's docks and piers accommodate ships from every country in the World At the left can be seen the new Super-Ferry M. V. Hyak as it approaches the new Ultra-Modern Ferry Terminal." Color by Pat O'Malley Plastichrome by Colourpicture Boston, Mass 12130. Distributed only by Smith-Western Co. Inc. Tacoma-Portland.

There she goes - sailing out of the picture . . .

"78 Seattle and its Famous Harbor, Washington 6A-H2682" Chas. R. Laidlaw Aerophoto. C. T. Art Colortone Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. Made only by Curt Teich & Co., Inc., Chicago. C. P. Johnston., Seattle, Washington. Postmarked September 1937

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop

Joseph E. Standley established Ye Olde Curiosity shop in Seattle in 1899.  What began as a hobby as a child turned into a business that has lasted well over 100 years.  The Shop has moved several times but has always been on the central waterfront.  It is still run by J. E. Standley's family. And while I would highly recommend visiting the actual store to appreciate the experience, you can also make on-line purchases. See more about their history on the Shop's website.

I have a few postcards (of course!) and hope to continue to grow my collection.

"Interior of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Seattle, U. S. A. Located in the Colman dock. Most Unique Shop in the World. J. E. Standly, PROP'R. Established 1899"


"VISIT YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP EST'D 1899. 1-Whale Jaw Bones 1 ton each, 21 1/2 feet, largest in U. S. 2-Skull of Alaska Buffalo, largest in the world. 3-Giant Clam Shell. weighs 161 pounds. From Equator. 4-Ivory Tusk of Alaska Elephant (mammoth). 5-Head of Arctic Walrus with ivory tusks 6-Shell, 855 pounds, fired from U. S. Fort Worden. 7-Navajo Rugs, from Navajo Indians. 8-Indian Totem Poles. 9-Saw of Saw Fish. 10-Indian Cooking Basket. 11-Old Ship Lanterns, brass. 12-Hat worn by Chief Seattle. 13 - Alaska Snail, petrified, 67 pounds. 14-Chilcat Blanket from Alaska. GROUND FLOOR AT COLMAN DOCK ENTRANCE, SEATTLE"

I posted this one on the Facebook pages of Vintage King County and  Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.  The Shop posted this about the items on this 1920s postcard:

This picture is likely from the 1920's. Yes, we do still have most of the things shown in the photograph. I will list them in order. We have about 3/4 of one of the whale jaw bones. One was lost from being out in the weather too long and about a fourth of the other was cut off by someone in the middle of the night (!) when it was chained to the outside of the building that housed the shop when we were on pier 51. The ivory tusk of an Alaskan elephant (mastodon) is on display near the front of the shop (inside). We actually have two. We have several giant clam shells on display. There are many Native American totem poles in our collection (some older and some newer) and we have many for sale also. We have always bought directly from the local artists and some from Alaska and British Columbia as well. We have more than one saw fish saws. We have many Native American baskets in our collection but not sure if this exact one is on display. We purchased many weavings from Chief Sealth's daughter, Princess Angeline, which were for sale at the time and we have kept some examples. We do have a hat that Chief Sealth (Seattle) wore. In case you didn't know Seattle was named after Chief Sealth. The Alaska 67 pound fossil snail is on display in the outside window on the north side of the shop along with many other things from our museum collection. Lastly we do still have a Chilkat blanket on display.

The back of this postcard did not have space for writing, just space for an address and a stamp on the right, on the left side reads:
"VISITORS IN SEATTLE SHOULD SEE: The Pike Place Market; Zoological Gardens; The Smith Tower, 42 stories, Day and Night View; Anderson's Bout Tour of Harbor through U. S. Ship Canal to Lake Union into Lake Washington; Mt. Rainier; Snoqualmie Falls, 100 feet higher than Niagara; Big Trees in Schmitz Park; Sea Bathing at Alki Beach; View of Harbor from Colman Dock Rotunds; Battleships and great docks; U. S. Navy Yard at Bremerton, 1 hour boat ride; Municipal Frozen Fish Aquarium in Spokane St. Wharf; Tropical Conservatories and Art Museum in Volunteer Park; State Museum and Art Gallery on University Campus. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Alaska Bureau will give you free literature, maps and information about sight seeing.
VISIT THE WORLD FAMOUS YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP and see the Russia Brass Ikons, Samovars; Carvings on 4 grains of rice; Shrunken Human Head size of a lemon from Ecuador; the Lord's Prayer on a pin head; Fleas in dresses; a duckbill Plattypus; a devil fish, wolf fish, musk ox skull, camel bells, old ship lanterns; Narwhal tusk, Aztec pottery; ships in bottles, old guns; India mask and real hand-carved Indian Totem Poles, one to forty feet tall. Big variety of antique brass and bronze, Fossil Ivory jewelry from Alaska Eskimos. Odd rings and beads; rare novelties, Indian Baskets, Bracelets and rings, daggers and thousands of other curiosities from every land and see.
Everybody welcome to Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
Est'd 1899 by J. E. Standley
BEATS THE DICKENS
At Foot of Marion Stret
The Ground Floor Entrance to Colman Dock
Look for the Whale Jaw Bones 21 1/2 Ft. Tall"


"Interior of the world famous Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Ferry Dock Pier 52, Seattle 4, Washington U. S. A., on Seattle's historic Waterfront. In the foreground is 'Sylvester' the mummy and Cigar Store Indian. Most unique shop in the world, 'Beats the Dickens'. Established 1899" Ektachrome by J. Boyd Ellis. 
According to HistoryLink essay about Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Sylvester was acquired in 1955 - I think this postcard photo might have been taken about this time


"World Famous Ye Olde Curiosity Shop - 601 Alaskan Way - Pier 51, Seattle 4, Washington (Established 1899 on the waterfront.) Interior view showing Thunderbird House Front, Easter Island Carving, Korean Grave Figure, Cobalt Blue Foo Dog, Sylvester the Mummy (background), and Cigar Store Indian foreground."
This store is on Pier 51 (the above was on Pier 52) and I don't know which location was earlier but since Sylvester is further back in the store, I'm supposing it's a little later.  The Zone number between the City and State indicates it pre-dates the zip code which came in to effect in 1963.

"Seattle Ferry Terminal and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on the Seattle Waterfront" "Seattle Waterfront, Seattle, Washington, U. S. A. Modern touch to colorful Seattle waterfront is provided by the new $3,000,000 SEATTLE FERRY TERMINAL. The world-famous YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP is at left. Waterfront visitors are afforded unlimited sightseeing opportunities from piers which extend far out into Elliot Bay. Fireboats and ferries provide interesting maritime activity in Seattle harbor."

Guessing the date mid to late 1960s (it's after the Seattle World's Fair ended - the barrel poles in front were originally at the Ford Pavilion at the Fair).

Fun place to see; fun place to shop!

Ballard Locks

The U. S. Government Locks, AKA The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks AKA The Ballard Locks  are 96 years old.

From History Link

After decades of often-rancorous debate, construction of a Ship Canal to link Lake Washington and Puget Sound finally began on November 10, 1911. Following the failure of several private canal schemes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gen. Hiram M. Chittenden (1858-1917), advanced the project, and his name was later given to the Government Locks linking the Sound and Salmon Bay at Ballard. The canal required digging cuts between Salmon Bay and Lake Union at Fremont and between Lake Union and Lake Washington at Montlake, and building four bascule bridges at Fremont, Ballard, the University District, and Montlake. The Locks officially opened on July 4, 1917, but the canal was not declared complete until 1934.

This is the opening weekend of boating season and many are making their way through The Locks which join Puget Sound to Lake Union and then on to Lake Washington.



"No. 80 in Union Oil company's Natural Color Photographic Scenes of the West. Seattle, metropolis of the Northwest and gateway to Alaska, takes its name from an Indian chief who was friendly to the settlers who first arrived in 1851. The Ballard Locks, shown here make possible passage of deep sea ships from Puget Sound into Lake Union and Lake Washington" See the West with 76 Gasoline Copyright 1939 Union Oil Company of Calif. Made in U. S. A


"Canal Locks Second to Panama, Seattle, Washington" 74031 Tichnor Quality Views. Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Made only by Tichnor Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass. Mailed January 1944


"C2037 Government Locks, Seattle, separate Puget Sound from freshwater Lake Union and Lake Washington. Large ocean steamers easily pass through these enormous locks."  A Mike Roberts Color Production, Berkeley 2, California


"U. S. Government Locks Seattle, Washington. Second largest locks in the world. Although mighty ocean liners pass through these locks connecting Lake Union with Puget Sound, the locks will operate for even small pleasure craft as shown here."  Color by Paul L. Miller - Shostal.


"U. S. Government Locks - Seattle, Washington. Second largest locks in the world. Both mighty ocean liners and pleasure craft pass through these locks connecting Lake Union with Puget Sound." Color by Cal Harbert.


"Government Locks, Seattle, Wash. Thousands of pleasure craft as well as the largest ocean freighters pass through these locks from the waters of Puget Sound to the fresh waters of Lake Union and Lake Washington."  Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis. Mailed January 1970

Opening Day

Opening Day for boating and the weather is supposed to be amazing!  This is a beautiful area to enjoy water craft sports.

Vintage boating and yachting Seattle-area postcards


"University of Washington and Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, Washington. Showing Mt. Baker in Distance" 9225 "The University of Washington was founded in 1861, just ten years after Seattle was settled. It has a 583 acre campus and now boasts an enrollment of more than 10,000 students. Lake Washington, shown to the left, is one of the three large fresh water lakes located within the city limits." Published by Adams News Co., Seattle, Wash. C Asahel Curtis


"Seattle - Great Boating Center. Boats gather in Portage Bay for opening day regatta on Lake Washington - a yearly event. Seattle Yacht Club at right, University of Washington campus in background." Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea


"Portage Bay and Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, Wash. University of Washington campus in the distance with new medical center and stadium showing prominently." C-98 60195 Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea.


"Seattle Boat Parade" "Seattle, Washington; Boating Capital of the World. With numberless fine inland waterways and beautiful Puget Sound, boating is the most popular recreation of Seattle residents. Boat Season Opening Day is a huge civic event." Color photo by Max R. Jensen
Anybody know when that wing of the UW Hospital was being built to help me date this? There is no Evergreen Point Floating bridge under construction so it's before 1961.


"Portage Bay and University of Washington Campus, Seattle, Washington. At left center is the University medical and hospital center. At right center is the Athletic Pavilion and Stadium. At lower right is the beautiful Seattle Yacht Club." C-425 Aerial color by Clifford B. Ellis. mailed July 1962


"3002 - Seattle Yacht Harbor. Where thousands of pleasure craft are moored on beautiful Lake Washington." Photo by James W. Power.


"Yachting on Puget Sound, Wash." "3014 Lowman & Hanford Co., Seattle, Wash. (Germany)


"Fishing at Seattle's Front Door. Elliott Bay offers real sport for the lovers of salmon fishing. annual derbys are held and salmon up to 50 pounds are often caught within sight of Seattle's main business section" C-99 Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea.

Seattle Parks

The Seattle area is blessed with natural beauty. The Board of Park Commissioners was established in 1887 to oversee development of the Seattle park system. according to the Seattle.Gov page on park history. There is an AMAZING resource on Seattle park history compiled by Donald N. Sherwood known as the Sherwood Park History Files.

Seattle Park Postcards show some of this beauty.

Leschi Park

"4. Listening to the Band, Leschi Park, Seattle."


"A corner of Leschi Park, showing the Tennis Courts and Winding Boulevard, Lake Washington in the background. Seattle U. S. A." "A typical winter day in Seattle where the average winter temperature is 40 F. This photograph was taken March 3, 1914"

Japanese Tea Garden

"Japanese Tea Garden - University of Washington Arboretum" "The Japanese Tea Garden located in the University of Washington arboretum Seattle, Washington, encompassing 4 acres is the largest of its kind outside Japan. This authentic garden includes hand carved granite lanterns, moon viewing stand and a traditional stone face washing basin."

"University of Washington Seattle, Washington. One of the most colorful tourist attractions in Seattle is the Japanese Tea Garden located in the beautiful Arboretum - a moment for reflection."

Kinnear Park

"In Kinnear Park, Seattle, Washington"

"Rustic Pavilion in Kinnear Park Seattle, Washington"

Madrona Park

"26. Madrona Park, Seattle"

Mt. Baker Park

"Japanese Pagoda Lantern in Mt. Baker Park, Seattle, Washington - A Gift from Kojiro Matsukatu of Kobe, Japan"

Seward Park

"Seward Park, Seattle. Blossom time in Seward Park, Seattle, Washington where Japanese cherry trees bloom in gorgeous profusion about a picturesque shrine."

"Seward Park - Seattle, Wash. One of the fine city parks. This shows round flower bed and the Japanese Flowering Peach in bloom."

Volunteer Park

"1744 - Volunteer Park, Seattle, Washington"

"Volunteer Park Gardens and Seattle Art Museum." Ektachrome by J. Boyd Ellis.

"Conservatory - Volunteer Park. Seattle, Wash. The outdoor formal gardens together with the tropical flowers found in the beauty spot afford a wide range of floral display throughout the year" C-33 Ektachrome by F. W. Huhn

"Volunteer Park. One of Seattle's many beauty spots. The Seattle Art Museum may be seen just beyond the water storage reservoir. Lake Washington in the distance."