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Aerial Photographs

Starting in the first decade of the twentieth century, Seattle area photographers were documenting the city’s celebrations and growth. From the splendor of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909 to the construction of highways and growth of the suburbs in the 1950s and 1960s, see how our region has evolved through highlights in aerial photography from our collections.

Image of Aerial photograph of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE) fairgrounds by Richard T. Jones, 1909
Image of Aerial view of Boeing Airplane Company plant on the Duwamish River, April 26, 1929
Image of Large framed colored photograph looking south at downtown Seattle from Queen Anne Hill, 1940s
Image of Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Company, September 30, 1940
Image of Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Company, July 8, 1943
Image of Aerial of Space Needle and fairgrounds during construction from southeast, Seattle World's Fair, circa 1961
Image of Aerial of U.S. Science Pavilion, Seattle World's Fair, 1962
Image of Aerial view of crowds waiting to enter Seattle World's Fair taken from east, 1962
Image of Top of the Space Needle, Seattle World's Fair, 1962
Image of Aerial of Hollywood Chicken Farm, Woodinville, 1940
Image of Aerial of Hollywood Chicken Farm, Woodinville, 1940
Image of Aerial view of Seattle, showing Grosvenor House, Seattle, circa 1967
Image of Aerial view of Lake Union, taken from the southwest, Seattle, 1967
Image of Aerial view of Bartell Drugs building in downtown Seattle, 1967
Image of Aerial view of Lake Union looking northeast, Seattle, 1967
Image of Aerial view of South Lake Union looking northeast, Seattle, 1967
Image of Aerial view of the northern part of Lake Union, looking northeast, Seattle, 1967
Image of Aerial of Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition from southeast, Seattle, 1909
Image of View of the Denny Regrade area, circa 1925
Image of View looking south from Volunteer Park water tower, Seattle, circa 1913
Image of View to the east from the Volunteer Park water tower, circa 1913
Image of Madrona neighborhood, Seattle, circa 1910
Image of Madrona neighborhood, Seattle, circa 1910
Image of Madrona neighborhood, Seattle, circa 1910
Image of View east from Volunteer Park water tower, Seattle, circa 1910
Image of Aerial of downtown Seattle, August 9, 1933
Image of Aerial view of Georgetown, from the south, September 19, 1933
Image of Aerial of Renton looking southeast, May 31, 1933
Image of Aerial of Marine Hospital from south, Seattle, April 17, 1933
Image of Aerial of Union Oil Co. plant and dock, Seattle, circa 1932
Image of Flood at Orillia, December 12, 1933
Image of Aerial view of Marine Hospital, Seattle, 1937
Image of Aerial of Lake Union looking east, Seattle, September 14, 1934
Image of Aerial view of Seattle from south, 1935
Image of Aerial view of Connecticut Street dock, Seattle, 1935
Image of Aerial of Camp Cherry Valley, near Carnation, February 15, 1935
Image of Aerial view of Georgetown from the southeast, 1936
Image of Aerial view from the southeast, looking across Georgetown to West Seattle, 1936
Image of Aerial of waterfront and downtown from west, Seattle, September 15, 1936
Image of Aerial view of Edgewater Apartments in Madison Park, Seattle, September 11, 1938
Image of Aerial of National Guard Armory, Seattle, June 29, 1939
Image of Aerial of Franklin High School and Mount Baker neighborhood looking south, Seattle, May 31, 1932
Image of Aerial view of Denny regrade area, Seattle, 1931
Image of Downtown and Mount Rainier, Seattle, July 21, 1939
Image of Aerial of Ford Motor Plant from southeast, Seattle, 1932
Image of Aerial view of Kingdome and container dock, Seattle, September 23, 1983
Image of Aerial view of an early Boeing B-17E in flight, Seattle, 1941
Image of Aerial view of an early Boeing B-17E in flight, Washington State, 1941
Image of Aerial view looking down on nine Martin bombers in formation, 1938
Image of Aerial view, looking northwest, of the construction of the Space Needle, Seattle, 1961
Image of Aerial view of construction of the Space Needle, Seattle, 1961
Image of Aerial view of the West Seattle Golf Course, looking northeast, 1937
Image of Aerial view, looking northeast, of the construction of Interstate 5, Lakeview Boulevard section, Seattle, circa 1958
Image of Aerial of freeway bridge under construction, Seattle, 1959
Image of Aerial view looking north from the freeway bridge under construction, Seattle, 1959
Image of Aerial of freeway construction, Seattle, 1967
Image of Mount Rainier from downtown Seattle, July 1960
Image of Aerial view of Redmond, Washington, September 14, 1956
Image of Aerial view of Ballard looking west, Seattle, 1937
Image of Aerial of Evergreen Point Bridge under construction from west, Seattle, 1963
Image of Aerial view of Seattle's business district, 1937
Image of Aerial view of downtown Seattle looking northeast, 1937
Image of Aerial view of Firland Sanatorium, Shoreline, May 1938
Image of Aerial view of Museum of History & Industry, Seattle, 1952
Image of Aerial of Seattle Public Library under construction from northeast, Seattle, 1959
Image of Aerial view of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle, 1953
Image of Aerial of Alaskan Way Viaduct extension south to Spokane Street with a view northeast toward Seattle, 1959
Image of Aerial view of Aqua Theatre, Seattle, 1950
Image of Boating season opening day parade, looking west, Seattle, May 2, 1958
Image of Boating season opening day parade, looking southwest, Seattle, May 2, 1958
Image of Aerial view of Washington State coastline, 1959
Image of Aerial view of Washington State coastline, 1959
Image of Aerial view of Washington State coast, with a tugboat pulling logs, 1959
Image of Aerial view of Suzzallo Library, looking northeast, Seattle, 1937
Image of Aerial view of Suzzallo Library, looking southwest, 1937
Image of Aerial view of University of Washington campus, looking southeast, Seattle, 1946
Image of Aerial view of University of Washington central campus, Seattle, 1948
Image of Aerial view of University of Washington campus, looking northeast, Seattle, 1948
Image of Aerial view of University of Washington central plaza, Seattle, 1948
Image of Aerial view of U.W. School of Medicine under construction, looking northeast, Seattle, 1948
Image of Aerial view of University of Washington campus, looking southwest, Seattle, 1948
Image of Aerial view of the University of Washington looking east, Seattle, 1949
Image of Aerial view of the University of Washington looking north, Seattle, 1955
Image of Aerial view of the Seattle World's Fair grounds, 1962
Image of Aerial view of the Space Needle, Seattle, 1962
Image of Aerial view, looking northeast, of the top of the Space Needle, Seattle, 1962
Image of Aerial view, looking north, of the Space Needle and Seattle World's Fair grounds, 1962
Image of Aerial view, looking west, of the Space Needle and Seattle World's Fair grounds with Elliott Bay, 1962
Image of Aerial view, looking northwest, of the U.S. Science Pavilion and the Seattle World's Fair grounds, with Elliott Bay, 1962
Image of Aerial view of Seattle Center, April, 1987
Image of Aerial view of Foreign Trade Zone, Seattle, September 21, 1949
Image of Aerial view of South Lake Union neighborhood looking northeast, 1953
Image of Aerial view of Empire Way and Sick's Stadium, July 11, 1953
Image of View of Rainier Avenue and Lake Way looking east, March 1954
Image of Aerial view of Fort Lawton and Magnolia, Seattle, April 24, 1964
Image of Musicians performing atop Space Needle, Seattle, August 26, 1988
Image of Aerial view of South Lake Union neighborhood looking south, September 28, 1993
Image of Aerial view of Washington State Coliseum construction site showing original buildings, Seattle, 1960
Image of Aerial view of Washington State Coliseum construction site, Seattle, 1960
Image of Century 21 Exposition fairgrounds, with view of Washington State Coliseum construction site, Seattle, 1961
Image of Aerial view of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, March 7, 1959
Image of Aerial view of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, May 8, 1959
Image of Aerial view of Aurora Bridge over Lake Union, Seattle, April 1960
Image of Aerial view of Freeway Bridge during Interstate 5 construction, Seattle, January 1961
Image of Aerial view of Interstate 5 construction at Denny Way, looking north, January 1961
Image of Aerial view of Seattle waterfront, showing Polynesian Restaurant on Pier 51, October 13, 1961
Image of Aerial view of Seattle waterfront, including viaduct construction, October 16, 1961
Image of Aerial view of Evergreen Point Floating Bridge construction, Seattle, January 18, 1962
Image of Aerial view of freeway construction, Seattle, January 18, 1962
Image of Aerial view of I-5 and 520 construction, Seattle, August 1, 1963
Image of Aerial view of I-5 freeway construction at Lakeveiw Boulveard East, Seattle, February 25, 1964
Image of Aerial view of Interstate 5 construction through Seattle, February 25, 1964
Image of Aerial view of Aurora Bridge over Lake Union, Seattle, July 20, 1964
Image of Aerial view of Harbor Island, Seattle, July 20, 1964
Image of Aerial view of Interstate 5 and Northgate Mall, Seattle, March 10, 1965
Image of Aerial view of Crossroads Mall shopping center, Bellevue, February 24, 1967
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Seattle Center Coliseum, October 22, 1961
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Space Needle, November 26, 1961
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Century 21 Exposition fairgrounds, Seattle, January 9, 1962
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Century 21 Exposition fairgrounds and Magnolia, Seattle, January 9, 1962
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Century 21 Exposition fairgrounds, Seattle, February 11, 1962
Image of Aerial view of the construction of the Westlake monorail station, Seattle, March 9, 1962
Image of Aerial view of Century 21 Exposition site, Seattle, April 12, 1962
Image of Aerial view of Century 21 Exposition site on opening day, Seattle, April 21, 1962
Image of Mt. Rainier above the fog from downtown Seattle, circa 1985
Image of South end of Seattle, looking west, circa 1949
Image of View of Seattle from Capitol Hill, 1962
Image of Aerial view of Pacific Coast Cement Company, Seattle, May, 1953
Image of Aerial view of the Puget Sound Area postcard, circa 1938
Image of Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Dry Docks, Inc., Seattle, April 11, 1905
Image of Repair Yard, aerial view looking south, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle Division, November 17, 1956
Image of Repair Yard, aerial view of yard, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle Division, November 17, 1956
Image of Aerial view of Harbor Island with Todd Shipyards located on NW corner of Island, Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, February 1965
Image of Aerial view looking north, Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, July 8, 1966
Image of Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division, 1977
Image of Aerial view of yard looking southwesterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division, 1983
Image of Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division, 1983
Image of Aerial view of the Associated Shipbuilders shipyard, Seattle, April 22, 1941
Image of Aerial view of the Associated Shipbuilders shipyard, Seattle, November 1943
Image of Aerial view of the Associated Shipbuilders shipyard, Seattle, June 14, 1955
Image of Aerial of Snoqualmie Falls, near Snoqualmie, circa 1965
Image of Aerial view of Sea-Tac Airport on opening day, July 9, 1949
Image of Aerial of Evergreen Point Bridge under construction from southwest, Seattle, 1963
Image of Aerial view of Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, March 1963
Image of Aerial of Boeing Plant #2 looking southeast, Seattle, 1943
Image of Aerial view of Alaskan Way Viaduct under construction from south, Seattle, 1957
Image of Aerial view of the Central Area after snowstorm, November 22, 1946
Image of Aerial view of the Rainier Valley after snowstorm, November 22, 1946
Image of Aerial view of Lake Hills, Bellevue, 1959
Image of Aerial of Fishermen's Terminal from southwest, Seattle, 1950
Image of Aerial view of Bethlehem Pacific Steel plant, Seattle, 1954

Land Acknowledgement

MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
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