Seattle Municipal Street Railway Photograph Collection, 1913-1940

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle Municipal Street Railway
Title
Seattle Municipal Street Railway Photograph Collection
Dates
1913-1940 (inclusive)
1920-1932 (bulk)
Quantity
341 photographic prints (1 box and 1 folder)
327 negatives : nitrate
1 negative : glass
Collection Number
PH0266
Summary
Photographs of neighborhood routes, tracks, trolleys, and car barns of the Seattle Municipal Street Railway from 1913-1940.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Nitrate and glass negatives are not available for viewing.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In 1883, Frank Osgood and Judge Thomas Burke, along with pioneer entrepreneurs David Denny and George Kinnear, formed a plan to build Seattle’s first streetcar line and, arguably, Seattle’s first attempt at public transportation. The first streetcars of the Seattle Street Railway ran between Occidental Avenue and Pike Street in downtown Seattle starting in September 1884. This new form of transportation was an instant success and other competing streetcar companies formed. The first electric railway line (also the first on the West Coast) was added in 1889. By 1892, Seattle had 48 miles of streetcar tracks and 22 miles of cable railways. The Panic of 1893 put many of the street railways into financial difficulty, however. Consolidation of the various lines began in 1899, and over the next few years at least nine of the independent lines were consolidated under the Seattle Electric Railway Co., owned by Stone and Webster.

The period between 1902 and 1912 was considered a golden age for the streetcar system. Routes covered most of the worthwhile destinations in the city, and rides cost five cents. By 1905, Stone and Webster owned over 20 previously independent streetcar and cable lines totaling over 103 miles of track. With the consolidation of the independent lines, there was also expansion of lines into suburban neighborhoods, including Fremont, Ballard, Wallingford, and areas of West Seattle. Unfortunately, after 1907 the company did not invest resources towards upgrading and replacing worn tracks and equipment. This led to slow, erratic, and unreliable service in the coming years. At the end of 1912, Stone and Webster transferred the holdings of the Seattle Electric Co. to the Puget Sound Traction, Light and Power Company (later known as Puget Power and then Puget Sound Energy). By 1915, the system grew to include 203 miles of track, covering 111.2 miles of street.

Beginning in September 1912, the city of Seattle took the plunge into municipal ownership and management of a bond-funded streetcar system. Four miles of track for Division A of the Seattle Municipal Railway (SMR) was completed on May 23, 1914. The line ran from the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Pine Street downtown north to the edge of Ballard at 14th Avenue NW. In October 1913, the owners of the Highland Park and Lake Burien Railway donated their 14 miles of electric railway track. The SMR took over operation of the system in May 1914 and renamed the line Division C. In 1918, the Loyal Railway Co., which serviced the Ballard area and Loyal Heights, was incorporated into the Division A line.

By 1918, Seattle had serious transportation problems. World War I was underway and the city had to contend with an influx of war workers, many of whom were shipyard employees. Negotiations began between the city and Stone & Webster. Seattle Mayor Ole Hanson offered $15 million to purchase the streetcar system – this sum was determined later to be three times the actual value of the system. The agreement included the purchase of approximately 195 miles of electric railway tracks and nine miles of cable tracks, 477 passenger cars, various other freight and work cars, seven car barns and yards, three cable stations, and a large car repair shop in Georgetown. A 20-year utility bond was issued to cover the purchase price. On March 31, 1919, the entire street railway system, renamed the Seattle Municipal Street Railway, was turned over to the city of Seattle.

Monetary problems continued to plague the railway system into the 1920s. By the terms of the sale, the bond obligations to Stone & Webster had the first claim on the earnings of the system. This meant that the annual bond payment of $833,000 was the highest priority regardless of how desperately the money was needed for maintenance, repairs, and equipment. Furthermore, in December 1920, the city had a nine-month operating deficit of over $500,000. The city transferred $83,000 from the General Fund to the Street Railway Fund. Fourteen taxpayers brought a lawsuit against the city, arguing that the General Fund was being used for unauthorized purposes. On April 29, 1922, the State Supreme Court decided that the city could not encroach upon the General Fund for the purposes of maintaining the street railway. This decision doomed the system to eventual bankruptcy. Other cities had commonly permitted using the General Fund for maintenance and improvements.

Competition from the automobile also had a negative impact on ridership. Not only were former railway passengers driving more cars, but these cars also clogged the shared thoroughfares and slowed down railway service. By 1930, 90,000 private automobiles and 400 taxis were competing with the streetcars of the Seattle Municipal Street Railway. In the early 1930s, buses replaced streetcars on some routes. The Aurora Bridge opened on February 22, 1932, with streetcar tracks conspicuously absent from the road. In the early 1930s, several commissions were formed to avert a financial crisis and reorganize railway management. In 1934, it became clear that without the help of an outside financial source the street railway system was doomed to complete bankruptcy.

By 1936, the streetcar system had 224 miles of track, 8.3 miles of cable line, 83.7 miles of bus route, 410 electric cars, 60 buses, 66 utility and freight cars, and five motor utility cars. There were 28 streetcar lines and 16 feeder bus lines. A number of the streetcar lines operated at a loss, as did the cable lines and bus lines. The system had a $4 million deficit and still owed half of the principal on the 1918 bonds.

Later in 1936, the city retained the John C. Beeler Organization, a New York engineering consultant firm that specialized in the operation, management, and financing of city transportation systems. The city rejected Beeler’s first plan to use federal funds to revamp the streetcar lines, eliminate the cable railways, and substitute buses and trackless trolleys on some routes. In August 1936, Beeler submitted his second rehabilitation plan. It proposed eliminating the entire streetcar system and replacing it with 240 trackless trolleys (electric buses) and 135 gasoline buses, along with $11.6 million in bonds to pay off the balance of the debt to Puget Sound Power & Light and finance re-equipping the system. The proposal, Proposition A, was defeated by voters in March 1937. Voters, in the midst of the Great Depression, were not inclined to allow their tax dollars to be used to finance a controversial and untested plan. There was also uncertainty about the superiority of rubber-tired transportation over the proven rail system. No city of Seattle’s size had yet to replace its entire streetcar system with a system of buses and trackless trolleys.

In early 1938, the Seattle Municipal Street Railway went bankrupt. In April, new Seattle mayor Arthur Langlie turned to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) for a loan. After months of negotiations, a loan of $10 million was granted. Puget Sound Power & Light accepted a cash payment of $3.25 million. One condition of the RFC loan was the creation of a three-person transportation commission appointed by the mayor and the city council. In late 1939, a resolution was adopted to change the name of the Seattle Municipal Street Railway to the Seattle Transit System. The Beeler Organization was hired to develop a rehabilitation plan, which was substantially similar to its second proposed plan from 1936. The approval of this plan laid the groundwork for the end of the railway and cable lines in Seattle.

In January 1940, the first of the 102 newly ordered gasoline-powered buses began regularly scheduled operation. In April, the first of the 235 Westinghouse trackless trolleys began service. The streetcar lines ceased operation one by one as the buses and trackless trolleys came into service. A number of the streetcar lines in and around downtown were eliminated in the first six months of 1940. Next, the north-south lines from West Seattle and the University District stopped. The cable lines were also eliminated during this time. By the spring of 1941, only the Phinney (Route 21) and 6th Avenue NW (Route 19) streetcar lines remained. The Phinney line stopped running on April 5, 1941. Car No. 706 of Route 19, the last streetcar of the Seattle Municipal Street Railway, made its final run on April 13, 1941.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection includes photographs depicting streetcar tracks, streetcars, and buses of the Seattle Municipal Street Railway in various neighborhoods throughout the Seattle area from the 1910s to 1940. Many photos were taken to document the location of trolley accidents (although few accidents are actually depicted), resulting in various views of the same street or intersection. The collection is divided up geographically and by route. Some routes may include photos that span other geographic areas. For example, Route 14 (Capitol Hill-Mount Baker) is located in the Capitol Hill section. It includes photos depicting the Capitol Hill area as well as areas of South Seattle.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions might exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the repository for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Linda Corets, 2004. Updated by Michaela Kraft 2022

Bibliography

A thorough history of streetcars in Seattle may be found in Leslie Blanchard, The Street Railway Era in Seattle: A Chronicle of Six Decades (Forty Fort: H.E. Cox, 1968).

The Seattle City Directory (Seattle: Polk's Seattle Directory Co.), 1914-1940, contains street, avenue and car line guides featuring route details.

The Guide Map of Seattle (Seattle: Kroll Map Co., 1930) and the E-Z Guide Map of Seattle, Wash.: With Patent Indicator (San Francisco: Fred B. Bain, Inc., c1924) feature complete route designations for all of the Seattle Municipal Railway streetcar lines.

A 1929 study of the financial and economic aspects of the Seattle Municipal Railway system may be found in Harry Leslie Purdy, The Cost of Municipal Operation of the Seattle Street Railway (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1929). The study refutes the popular claim at the time that municipal ownership was responsible for the financial difficulties of the street railway.

John C. Beeler's plan for the railway was published in Report to the City of Seattle on a Plan for Modernization of the Seattle Municipal Street Railway with R.F.C. Financing (New York: The Beeler Organization, 1939) in the division.

Related Materials

See also the Seattle Municipal Railway - Federal Emergency Relief Administration Photograph Collection (PH Coll 661).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Route 19 - 6th Avenue N.W.
Box item
1 1 1925
1 2
Intersection at 6th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 62nd Street, looking northeast (SMR 303)
Feb. 16, 1921
1 3 ca. Dec. 1920
1 4 undated
1 5
Road and streetcar tracks at 5th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 60th Street, looking north on 5th (SMR 88)
Site of accident on December 10, 1920.
undated
1 6-7
Single track paving along 6th Avenue N.W. at about N.W. 60th Street, looking south (SMR 300; SMR 76)
undated
1 8 ca. 1920
Routes 19 and 30
Box item
1 9 Dec. 27, 1920
Dexter Avenue North - Serving Routes 19, 28, and 30
Box item
1 10
Streetcar tracks on Dexter Avenue N. and Newton Street, looking north on Dexter (SMR 146)
Mar. 16, 1922
1 11 undated
1 12-13
Streetcar tracks on Dexter Avenue N. and Galer Street, looking north (SMR 282; SMR 322)
undated
1 14 undated
1 15
Streetcar tracks on Dexter Avenue N. and Galer Street, looking south (SMR 281)
undated
1 16
Streetcar tracks on Dexter Avenue N. and Galer Street, looking south (SMR 232)
Jan. 25, 1922
1 17 undated
1 18 June 18, 1927
1 19
Streetcar tracks along Dexter Avenue N. and Highland Drive, looking south (SMR 249)
June 18, 1927
1 20
Streetcar tracks on Dexter Avenue N. and Ward Street, looking north (SMR 191)
undated
1 21
Streetcar tracks, dirt road, and double trolley wire on Dexter Avenue N., looking south (SMR 254)
This track was part of Division A, the first line created and managed by the City of Seattle as part of the Seattle Municipal Railway. It opened on May 23, 1914, and ran from 2nd and Pine Street to Ballard.
Nov. 1914
1 22
Intersection at Republican Street and Broad Street (SMR 224)
undated
1 23
Road and streetcar tracks at Harrison Street and Broad Street (SMR 323)
undated
Route 27 - 15th Avenue N.W.
Box item
1 24 undated
1 25 undated
1 26
Car at streetcar tracks at N.W. 85th Street and 8th Avenue N.W., looking west (SMR 136)
May 31, 1920
1 27 undated
1 28 undated
1 29 undated
1 30
Texaco service station at 15th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 85th Street, looking south on 15th (SMR 83)
undated
1 31
Trolley at 15th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 85th Street, looking east to 15th (SMR 217)
undated
Old Route 27 - 14th Avenue N.W. (Old Ballard North Route Until 1927)
Box item
1 32
Trolley at 14th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 70th Street, looking south on 14th at end of route (SMR 137)
Aug. 17, 1920
1 33
Streetcar tracks at 14th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 70th Street, looking south on 14th at end of route (SMR 121)
Aug. 17, 1920
1 34
Streetcar tracks at 14th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 70th Street, looking north to 70th (SMR 143)
June 22, 1927
1 35
Public Service Stores at 14th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 70th Street, looking south on 70th (SMR 142)
undated
Route 28 - Ballard-28th Avenue N.W.
Box item
1 36-37
Streetcar tracks at 32nd Avenue N.W. and NW. 85th Street, end of route (SMR 32; SMR 33)
ca. 1920
1 38
Streetcar tracks, probably at 28th Avenue N.W. and N.W. 78th Street (SMR 158)
undated
1 39 undated
1 40 Nov. 18, 1920
1 41 Nov. 18, 1920
1 42 Nov. 18, 1920
1 43
Streetcar tracks and road along W. Nickerson Street, looking west (SMR 276)
1930
Route 30 - Sunset Hill
Box item
1 44 undated

Fremont - Green Lake - WallingfordReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Route 18 - Wallingford Avenue
Box item
1 45 undated
1 46 Feb. 10, 1928
1 47 Feb. 10, 1928
Routes 18 and 22
Box item
1 48 June 14, 1923
1 49 June 14, 1927
1 50 June 14, 1927
1 51 June 14, 1927
1 52
Wet road and streetcar tracks at Carr Place and N. 34th Street, looking west (SMR 41)
Oct. 7, 1920
1 53 Oct. 7, 1920
Routes 18, 20, and 22
Box item
1 54
Streetcar tracks and road on N. 34th Street between Aurora Avenue N. and Woodland Park Avenue, looking west (SMR 246)
undated
1 55 Feb. 27, 1921
1 56
Streetcar tracks on N. 34th Street between Aurora Avenue N. and Woodland Park Avenue, looking west (SMR 267)
Feb. 27, 1921
1 57 Apr. 4, 1921
1 58 Apr. 4, 1921
Westlake Avenue - Serving Routes 18, 20, 21, and 22
Box item
1 59-60
Traffic on Westlake Avenue N., south of W. Florentia Street (SMR 111, SMR 110)
Mar. 3, 1927
1 61
Streetcar on tracks on Westlake Avenue N., looking to intersection with Dexter Avenue N., W. Nickerson Street, and the Fremont Bridge (SMR 255)
undated
1 62 Mar. 18, 1926
1 63
Streetcar tracks and Marine-Machinists-Electricians building on Westlake Avenue N., between Lake Union dock and Halladay Street (SMR 314)
Mar. 18, 1926
1 64
Westlake Avenue N. and McGraw Street (SMR 236)
1936
1 65
Streetcar tracks on Westlake Avenue N. near McGraw Street, looking north to Aurora Bridge under construction (SMR 245)
1929
1 66 1936
1 67 before 1929
1 68
Streetcar tracks at Westlake Avenue N. and Newton Street, looking north (SMR 235)
Feb. 21, 1933
1 69 Apr. 9, 1921
1 70 Apr. 9, 1921
1 71 Feb. 10, 1922
1 72
Streetcar tracks at Westlake Avenue N. and Roy Street, looking east (SMR 309)
Feb. 10, 1922
1 73 undated
1 74
Streetcar tracks on Westlake Avenue N. at Mercer Street, looking north on Westlake (SMR 38)
Feb. 2, 1926
1 75 Feb. 2, 1926
1 76 Feb. 2, 1926
1 77 Feb. 2, 1926
1 78
Streetcar tracks on Westlake Avenue N., looking south to Mercer Street (SMR 36)
Feb. 2, 1926
1 79 Feb. 2, 1926
1 80
Westlake Avenue N. and Thomas Street, looking south (SMR 306)
June 19, 1921
1 81 June 19, 1921
1 82 Mar. 7, 1923
Route 20 - Green Lake
Box item
1 83 Feb. 9, 1921
1 84
Streetcar tracks at E. Green Lake Way and N. 55th Street, looking south (SMR 192)
This stretch of Green Lake Way was marked as Stone Way on 1930s maps.
Feb. 2, 1927
1 85 Aug. 3, 1927
1 87
Streetcar tracks and road, probably on Interlake Avenue N. between N. 46th Street and N. 47th Street, looking north (SMR 296)
Green Lake line later moved west to Stone Way.
1920
1 87
Streetcar tracks and road, probably on Interlake Avenue N. between N. 46th Street and N. 47th Street, looking north
Green Lake line later moved west to Stone Way.
1920
1 88
Streetcar tracks and road, probably on Interlake Avenue N. between N. 46th Street and N. 47th Street, looking south (SMR 295)
Green Lake line later moved west to Stone Way.
1920
1 89
Streetcar tracks and road at Woodland Park Ave and N. 46th Street, probably looking north (SMR 97)
Nov. 22, 1926
1 90
Streetcar tracks at Woodland Park Ave and N. 46th Street, looking south (SMR 264)
undated
1 91
Intersection at Woodland Park Ave and N. 46th Street, looking east (SMR 263)
undated
Route 21 - Phinney Avenue
Box item
1 92 Jan. 6, 1921
1 93
Streetcar tracks and brick road at Fremont Avenue N. and N. 42nd Street, looking south (SMR 181)
These tracks were used for the Phinney Avenue route and the Everett Interurban.
undated
1 94
Streetcar tracks and road on Fremont Avenue N. and N. 40th Street, looking south (SMR 156)
These tracks were used for the Phinney Avenue route and the Everett Interurban.
Feb. 15, 1930
1 95 June 15, 1921
1 96
Car hit by Phinney streetcar on Fremont Avenue N., between N. 35th Street and N. 36th Street, looking south (SMR 270)
June 15, 1921
1 96a July 6, 1923
1 96b July 7, 1923
1 96c March 2, 1924
Route 22 - Meridian
Box item
1 97 undated
Miscellaneous - Wallingford
Box item
1 98 1924
1 99 Jan. 9, 1924

University District, Eastlake, and Northeast SeattleReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Route 16 - Ravenna Park and Route 17 - Cowen Park
Box item
1 100 Mar. 17, 1921
1 101 undated
1 102 undated
1 103 undated
1 104 ca. 1921-1925
1 105 Jan. 27, 1928
1 106 Dec. 22, 1931
1 107
Streetcar along Eastlake Avenue E. and E. Roanoke Street (SMR 176)
Sept. 25, 1920
1 108 Feb. 23, 1920
1 109
Streetcar tracks along Eastlake Avenue E. between E. Galer Street and Nelson Place, looking south (SMR 299)
Feb. 23, 1920
1 110 Feb. 23, 1920
1 111 Feb. 23, 1920
1 112 Nov. 22, 1933
1 113
Streetcar tracks and Hubbard's Grocery, probably along Eastlake Avenue E.
undated
1 114
Streetcar tracks and Hubbard's Grocery, probably along Eastlake Avenue E. (SMR 56)
undated
Route 17 - Cowen Park
Box item
1 115
Streetcar tracks at 15th Avenue N.E. and N.E. 70th Street (SMR 78)
May 6, 1932
1 116 May 6, 1932
1 117
Streetcar tracks and road on 15th Avenue N.E. and N.E. 70th Street, looking east on 70th (SMR 74)
May 6, 1932
1 118
Road near intersection of 15th Avenue N.E. and N.E. 65th Street, looking east on 65th (SMR 171)
Aug. 5, 1929
Fairview Bus Route - Ravenna
Box item
1 119
N.E. 80th Street and 10th Avenue N.E. (Roosevelt Way) (SMR 107)
Dec. 22, 1931
Miscellaneous - Eastlake
Box item
1 120
Fairview Avenue N. and Valley Street, looking northeast to City Light plant (SMR 219)
Aug. 17, 1932

Capitol HillReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Route 9 - 19th Avenue-26th Avenue
Box item
1 121
Corner at 19th Avenue E. and E. Roy Street (SMR 115)
Apr. 29, 1921
1 122 Apr. 29, 1921
Route 10 - Montlake
Box item
1 123 June 12, 1920
1 124 June 12, 1920
1 125 June 12, 1920
1 126 June 12, 1920
Route 13 - Summit Avenue
Box item
1 127
Snow-covered roads and streetcar tracks at Summit Avenue E. and E. Harrison Street (SMR 197)
Dec. 1922
1 128 1931
1 129
Road and streetcar tracks on Bellevue Avenue E. and Olive Way, looking north (SMR 151)
Tip Top Grocery owned by Yoshitane Obozawa on corner.
1931
1 130 ca. 1921
Route 14 - Capitol Hill-Mount Baker
Folder item
1 131
Streetcar tracks and road on 15th Avenue E. at E. Prospect Street (SMR 327)
; 8 x 10 in.
June 7, 1921
Box
1 132
Streetcar tracks and road on 31st Avenue S., near Charles Street, looking north (SMR 285)
June 11, 1924
1 133 June 11, 1924
Route 15 - Broadway
Box item
1 134
Broadway E. between E. Mercer Street and E. Republican Street (SMR 301)
undated
1 135
Road work on Broadway E. between E. Mercer Street and E. Republican Street, looking north (SMR 302)
undated
E. Pike Street - Serving Routes 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
Box item
1 136
Road and streetcar tracks on E. Pike Street at 11th Avenue, looking west (SMR 128)
undated
1 137 Apr. 26, 1922
1 138 undated
1 139 undated
1 140 undated
1 141
Overview of E. Pike Street, east of Bellevue Avenue, looking east (SMR 152)
Feb. 1926
1 142 Mar. 28, 1921

Queen Anne, Elliott Avenue, and MagnoliaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Route 24 - North Queen Anne and Route 25 - East Queen Anne
Box item
1 143
Streetcar tracks on Boston Street and Bigelow Avenue, looking east on Boston (SMR 154)
Sept. 19, 1923
1 144 Oct. 30, 1925
Route 26 - West Queen Anne
Box item
1 145
Sidewalk, probably along Queen Anne Avenue near Galer Street
ca. May 14, 1923
1 146
House, possibly along Queen Anne Avenue near Galer Street
ca. May 14, 1923
Route 1 - Alki Point-Fort Lawton and Route 27 - 15th Avenue N.W.
Box item
1 147
Streetcar tracks along 15th Avenue W. and W. Boston Street, looking north (SMR 91)
Accident occured at this location on November 23, 1920.
ca. Nov. 1920
1 148
15th Avenue W. and Lawton Way, looking west (SMR 189)
Lawton Way at 15th Avenue W. is not listed on 2004 maps. It was located at or near present-day W. Armory Way.
July 16, 1923
1 149
Streetcar tracks at 15th Avenue W. and Lawton Way, looking northwest (SMR 190)
Lawton Way at 15th Avenue W. is not listed on 2004 maps. It was located at or near present-day W. Armory Way.
July 16, 1923
1 150
Streetcar tracks and road along Elliott Avenue W., probably near W. Comstock Street, looking north (SMR 261)
undated
1 151 undated
1 152
Streetcar tracks and road along Elliott Avenue W. at W. Mercer Street, looking northwest (SMR 196)
undated
1 153
Streetcar tracks along Elliott Avenue W. at 4th Avenue W., looking south (SMR 131)
Nov. 18, 1922
1 154 Mar. 18, 1926
Possibly Magnolia Bus Route
Box item
1 155
City bus on Wheeler Street Bridge (SMR 177)
ca. Dec. 11, 1920
1 156
Wheeler Street Bridge (SMR 178)
Dec. 11, 1920

Downtown, Denny Regrade, and Pioneer SquareReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Railroad Avenue
Later renamed Alaskan Way.
Box item
1 157 Dec. 30, 1925
1 158 Feb. 16, 1932
1 159 ca. 1925
1 160
Streetcar tracks at Railroad Avenue and King Street, looking north (SMR 60)
ca. 1925
Western Avenue
Box item
1 161 Oct. 22, 1920
1 162 Oct. 22, 1920
1 163 Feb. 16, 1932
1 164 Feb. 16, 1932
Pike Place Market
Box item
1 165-166
Sidewalk and stalls at Pike Place Market
undated
1 167 undated
1 168 undated
1st Avenue
Box item
1 169 Nov. 3, 1922
1 170
Streetcar tracks at 1st Avenue and Clay Street, looking north (SMR 144)
Mar. 17, 1926
Folder
1 171 undated
Box
1 172 1921
2nd Avenue
Box item
1 173 May 6, 1921
1 174 May 6, 1921
1 175 May 6, 1921
1 176-177
2nd Avenue and Battery Street (SMR 315; SMR 316)
May 6, 1921
1 178 Sept. 16, 1920
1 179 Sept. 16, 1920
1 180 Sept. 21, 1921
1 181 Sept. 21, 1921
1 182 1921
1 183 1921
1 184 ca. 1930
1 185
Stewart Farms store on Pike Street, between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue (SMR 187)
Apr. 19, 1926
3rd Avenue
Box item
1 186 Apr. 4, 1921
1 187
Streetcar tracks along 3rd Avenue at Wall Street, probably looking north (SMR 212)
Apr. 4, 1921
1 188 Apr. 4, 1921
1 189 Jan. 18, 1926
1 190
Streetcar tracks and road along 3rd Avenue at Lenora, looking north (SMR 135)
1921
1 191 1921
1 192 1921
1 192a June 15, 1937
1 193 Feb. 15, 1922
1 194 Feb. 15, 1922
1 195 Apr. 19, 1926
4th Avenue
Box item
1 196 Apr. 19, 1926
1 196a undated
1 197 undated
1 198 undated
1 199 undated
1 200 undated
1 201 undated
1 202
Streetcar tracks at Jackson Street and 4th Avenue S, looking west (SMR 44)
Feb. 1925
5th Avenue
Box item
1 203 undated
1 204 ca. 1920
1 205
Snowy roads and streetcar tracks on Virginia Street and 5th Avenue, looking east on Virginia (SMR 139)
1923
1 206 Mar. 25, 1927
1 207
Female passenger exiting trolley at 5th Avenue and Pike Street (SMR 96)
Mar. 25, 1927
Miscellaneous
Box item
1 208 ca. 1920s
1 209 May 20, 1919
1 210 undated
1 211
Intersection at Boren Avenue and University Street, looking south on Boren (SMR 307)
undated
1 212
Probably Denny Way near 6th, 7th, or 8th Avenue, looking south
undated
1 213
Probably Denny Way near 6th, 7th, or 8th Avenue, looking north
undated

Central District and MadronaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Route 8 - Madrona
Box item
1 214
Trolleyman and trolley at 30th Avenue and E. Union Street (SMR 294)
Aug. 24, 1920
Route 11 - East Cherry
Box item
1 215 Feb. 18, 1921
1 216 Nov. 18, 1920
1 217 Aug. 20, 1922
Route 12 - East Madison-Jefferson Park
Box item
1 218
E. Madison Street at 41st Avenue E., looking west (SMR 291)
Nov. 1, 1920
1 219
Streetcar tracks and road on E. Madison Street, probably at Lake Washington Blvd., looking east (SMR 22)
Aug. 10, 1932
1 220 Aug. 10, 1932
1 221
Streetcar tracks and road on E. Madison Street, near Lake Washington Blvd., looking east (SMR 277)
undated
1 222
Streetcar tracks on E. Madison Street at 29th Avenue E. (SMR 275)
May 9, 1927
1 223 May 25, 1925
1 224
Streetcar tracks at the end of the line on Beacon Avenue (SMR 69)
undated
1 225
Dirt road and streetcar tracks at the end of the line, probably on Beacon Avenue (SMR 157)
undated
Miscellaneous
Box item
1 226
Streetcar tracks and road along E. Spring Street (SMR 68)
undated
Yesler Way Cable Line Route
Box item
1 227
Streetcar tracks on Yesler Way, looking east to Leschi (SMR 280)
undated
1 227a June 11, 1920
1 227b June 11, 1920
1 228
Streetcar tracks on trestle, looking east to Leschi (SMR 279)
undated
1 229
Streetcar tracks at top of trestle, looking west (SMR 278)
undated
1 230
Streetcar tracks and "Street End" sign on Yesler Way at 32nd Avenue, looking east to Lake Washington (SMR 183)
Feb. 3, 1921

West Seattle and White CenterReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Route 1 - Alki
Box item
1 231
Streetcar tracks along Alki Avenue, looking south (SMR 195)
undated
Route 2 - Fauntleroy
Box item
1 232
Streetcar tracks at 45th Avenue S.W. and S.W. Director (SMR 214)
Nov. 27, 1931
1 233 ca. 1925
1 234 Oct. 19, 1922
1 235
Store at 47th Avenue S.W. and S.W. Othello Street (SMR 18)
ca. 1925
1 236
Fauntleroy Avenue S.W. and S.W. Myrtle Street, looking south (SMR 243)
June 25, 1928
1 237 June 25, 1928
1 238 undated
1 239
Streetcar tracks at Maple Lane and Fauntleroy Avenue, looking east
Dec. 28, 1921
1 240 Nov. 5, 1920
1 241 Nov. 5, 1920
1 242
Streetcar tracks and road at 28th Avenue S.W. and S.W. Dakota Street, looking south (SMR 130)
1923
Route 3 - West Seattle
Box item
1 243
Streetcar tracks at California Avenue S.W. and Ferry Avenue S.W., looking north (SMR 253)
undated
1 244 Oct. 30, 1925
Routes 2 and 3
Box item
1 245 Jan. 11, 1923
1 246 Jan. 11, 1923
Route 4 - White Center
Lake Burien line until 1931.
Box item
1 247
Streetcar tracks at S.W. Spokane Street and Marginal Place S.W., looking east towards Spokane Street Bridge (SMR 3)
ca. 1930
1 248 ca. 1934
1 249 July 11, 1925
1 250 July 11, 1925
1 251-252
Road at Marginal Place S.W. and S.W. Oregon Street, looking south (SMR 15; SMR 26)
July 11, 1925
1 253
Streetcar tracks at 9th Avenue S.W., looking north near S.W. Henderson Street (SMR 46)
undated
1 254 undated
1 255 undated
1 256
Streetcar tracks at 16th Avenue S.W., looking south, about two blocks south of S.W. Roxbury Street (SMR 11)
Feb. 5, 1924
1 257
Streetcar tracks at 16th Avenue S.W., looking north, about three blocks south of S.W. Roxbury Street (SMR 12)
Feb. 5, 1924
Spokane Street and Vicinity - Serving Routes 1, 2, 3, and 4
Box item
1 258
Streetcar tracks at E. Marginal Way, north of S. Hanford Street (SMR 225)
Isaacson Iron Works at left.
Dec. 26, 1926
1 259
West Seattle Bridge, S.W. Spokane Street, looking east (SMR 67)
ca. 1925
1 260
Streetcar tracks at S.W. Spokane Street and S.W. Wyoming Street (SMR 105)
Looking west to Spokane Street Bridge with Elliott Bay Mill at right. Elevated tracks used by Routes 1, 2, and 3. Route 4 used the surface tracks.
Apr. 15, 1920
1 261
Streetcar tracks at S.W. Spokane Street and Wyoming Street (SMR 103)
Site of accident on April 15, 1920. Wyoming Street no longer found on Seattle maps.
ca. Apr.15, 1920
1 262
Vehicle destroyed in accident at S.W. Spokane Street and Wyoming Street (SMR 104)
ca. Apr. 15, 1920
1 263
Restaurant and streetcar tracks at S.W. Spokane Street and Iowa Avenue, at the west end of the Spokane Street Bridge (SMR 47)
Iowa Avenue is not listed on 2004 maps. It was located at or near present-day W. Marginal Way near S.W. Chelan Avenue
May 16, 1924
1 264 Mar. 21, 1923
1 265 Jan. 5, 1934
1 266 ca. 1926
1 267
Holgate Street viaduct, looking east from E. Marginal Way (SMR 48)
This area of E. Marginal Way was later replaced by Alaskan Way and the Alaskan Way Viaduct - Highway 99.
ca. 1920
1 268
Elevated line on the Holgate viaduct, looking south (SMR 133)
undated
Probably 35th Avenue S.W. Bus Route
Box item
1 269
35th Avenue S.W. near S.W. Alaska Street (SMR 125)
Feb. 21, 1924
1 270 Feb. 21, 1924
Miscellaneous
Box item
1 271 Feb. 24, 1932
1 272
44th Avenue S.W. and S.W. Findlay Street, looking east (SMR 312)
Feb. 24, 1932

South SeattleReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Routes 5 (Southbound) and 7 (Northbound) - Kinnear-South Park
Box item
1 273 Feb. 26, 1927
1 274 Apr. 29, 1925
1 275
Streetcar tracks at 1st Avenue S. and S. Dawson Street (SMR 170)
Oct. 28, 1926
1 276-277
Streetcar tracks at 1st Avenue S. and E. Marginal Way S., looking southwest (SMR 247, SMR 50)
Nov. 2, 1925
1 278
1st Avenue S. drawbridge at E. Marginal Way S. (SMR 120)
undated
1 279 ca. 1928
1 280
E. Marginal Way S. and S. Michigan Street, looking south (SMR 64)
ca. 1928
1 281
E. Marginal Way S. and S. Michigan Street, looking north (SMR 65)
ca. 1928
1 282 undated
1 283 undated
1 284
8th Avenue S. drawbridge, looking south (SMR 205)
ca. 1925
1 285 Oct. 21, 1931
1 286 Oct. 21, 1931
1 287 Oct. 9, 1925
1 288 Oct. 9, 1925
Route 6 - South Seattle
Seattle Boulevard was later incorporated into Airport Way S.
Box item
1 289
Streetcar at 4th Avenue S. and Seattle Blvd. (SMR 45)
Feb. 1925
1 290 Jan. 15, 1924
1 291
4th Avenue S. and Seattle Blvd., looking west to 4th (SMR 326)
Jan. 15, 1924
1 292
4th Avenue S. and Seattle Blvd., looking east (SMR 325)
Jan. 15, 1924
1 293
Streetcar tracks at Seattle Blvd. and S. Horton Street, looking north (SMR 63)
June 1921
1 294
Streetcar tracks at Seattle Blvd. and S. Horton Street, looking south (SMR 62)
June 1921
1 295
Probably Seattle Blvd. at S. Horton Street, looking east (SMR 61)
June 1921
1 296
Duwamish Avenue, looking south (SMR 266)
Duwamish Avenue later became part of Airport Way S.
Oct. 31, 1921
1 297 Jan. 12, 1921
South Seattle Area
Box item
1 298
Lake Washington Blvd. (SMR 55)
undated
1 299 1925
1 300
Roadway, probably at 14th Avenue S. and E. Marginal Way, looking north (SMR 310)
undated
Beacon Hill Bus Route
Box item
1 301-304
Beacon Avenue at Jefferson Park Golf Course
Site was location of bus accident, ca. April 1923.
ca. Apr. 27, 1923
Lake Burien Bus Route
Box item
1 305
Ambaum Blvd. S.W. at about S.W. 124th Street, looking north (SMR 8)
1926
1 306
Dirt road at about S.W. 124th Street and Ambaum Blvd. S.W., looking west to Ambaum (SMR 7)
1926

Streetcars, Buses, and BarnsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Fremont Streetcar Barn
Box item
1 307 Sept. 23, 1919
1 307a December 12, 1936
1 308
Damaged streetcar for the #20 Green Lake route (SMR 72)
Feb. 27, 1921
1 309
Streetcar for #18 Wallingford route (SMR 100)
Feb. 2, 1922
1 310
Streetcar for #18 Wallingford route (SMR 99)
undated
1 311 Mar. 29, 1923
1 312
Streetcar for #21 Phinney Avenue route (SMR 199)
undated
Georgetown Shops
undated
Box item
1 313
Double-ended streetcar damaged in accident at 13th Avenue and E. Jefferson Street (SMR 161)
Oct. 13, 1919
Jefferson Car Barn
Box item
1 314
Streetcar involved in accident (SMR 102)
July 21, 1921
North Seattle Car Barn
This car barn and storage yard at 5th Avenue N. and Mercer Street served the Queen Anne, Kinnear, South Seattle, and West Seattle streetcar lines.
Box item
1 315 Nov. 28, 1922
1 316
Streetcar at car barn (SMR 204)
Sept. 15, 1926
1 317 Sept. 15, 1926
1 318
Streetcar at car barn (SMR 208)
undated
1 319
Streetcars parked in storage yard (SMR 213)
Aug. 20, 1913
1 320 Mar. 17, 1940
Miscellaneous Streetcars
Box item
1 321
Streetcar with broken window (SMR 123)
Jan. 11, 1923
Streetcar Interiors
Box item
1 322
Front-end controls of streetcar (SMR 140)
Apr. 9, 1921
1 323 undated
1 324-325
Interior seating of double-ended streetcar (SMR 200, SMR 31)
ca. 1920
1 326 undated
1 327 Feb. 3, 1938
Buses and Trackless Trolleys
Box item
1 328 Feb. 4, 1922
1 329 Feb. 4, 1922
1 330 Mar. 13, 1924
1 331 ca. 1932
1 332
Early city bus #101 heavily damaged after collision with truck at Lawton Way and W. Wheeler Street on bridge (SMR 233)
Sept. 13, 1921
1 333 ca. 1927
1 334
Demonstration trackless trolley just after unloading at the Great Northern yards (SMR 141)
Feb. 26, 1937
1 335 Mar. 4, 1937
1 336
SMR bus at Georgetown shops (SMR 126)
Jan. 13, 1939
1 337
Buses lined up on 15th Avenue E., near Volunteer Park, for Easter bus service (SMR 122)
Apr. 17, 1938
1 338 Apr. 7, 1937

Miscellaneous Unidentified Streetcar Tracks and RoadsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Streetcar Tracks
Box item
1 339
Streetcar tracks and road (SMR 59)
undated
1 340 undated
Other
Box item
1 341
Merrymont Farm truck (SMR 80)
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cable cars (Streetcars)--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Central business districts--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Commercial streets--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Roads--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interchanges and intersections--Photographs
  • Street railroad tracks--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Street railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Street-railroads--Buildings and structures--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Street-railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Street-railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle--Track--Photographs
  • Streets--Washington (State)--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • Seattle Municipal Street Railway--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Ballard (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs
  • West Seattle (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Westlake Avenue (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs