WAUSeattleFirePHColl684.xmlGuide to the Seattle Fire Photograph Collection June-August 1889Seattle Fire Photograph CollectionSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2010 (Last modified: 5/13/2022)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0684Seattle Fire photograph collectionJune-August 188996 photographic prints (2 boxes) ; various sizesCollection materials are in English.Photographs of the Seattle Fire on June 6, 1889, ruins after the fire, businesses in tents and temporary buildings about a month after the fire

The Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889 began a little after 2:00 p.m. in Clairmont's woodworking shop at Madison Avenue and Front Street (now First Avenue), and quickly expanded to the adjacent Denny Block building. At the time Seattle's water system had limited capacity, and the volunteer fire department found the water pressure insufficient for fighting the fire. By 4:00 p.m. a four-block area was in flames. The fire, driven by wind from the northwest, continued to spread. Only Elliott Bay on the west and vacant lots on the north and east contained the fire until a bucket brigade saved the Boston Block at Second and Columbia. At about 6:30 p.m. the new Occidental Hotel at Yesler Avenue and James St. caught fire, and it became clear the flames would spread to the wooden frame buildings south of Yesler. On the east, citizens used wet blankets, mops, and buckets to save the King County Courthouse and Henry Yesler's home along Third. During the evening, however, all of Seattle south of Yesler Avenue and west of Fourth Street burned except for the Oregon Improvement Company dock. The tide flats that were then south of King St. stopped the fire's spread south.

After the fire, the burned areas were guarded and patrolled by members of the Washington National Guard from Seattle, Tacoma, and Port Townsend until June 11, 1889. After the Guard left, however, thousands of scavengers and souvenir hunters began searching the ruins, causing one company to resume the 24-hour watch. The commander called for reserves from Vancouver in southern Washington Territory to relieve the exhausted militia, and Company H of the First Regiment arrived on June 15. Martial law was never in effect, and the National Guard turned looters over to the regular civil courts. On June 18, the Seattle police swore in special policemen to take over from the National Guard.

By a month after the fire many businesses had set up shop in whatever temporary locations they could find. Many set up canvas tents where their buildings had stood. Some merchants had time to save equipment and merchandise during the spread of the fire, and others restocked from shipments and relief that poured in from all over. The City of Seattle took several actions to prevent a recurrence: it purchased the formerly private water company and improved water pressure and pipes, decreed that all new buildings in the business district had to be made of stone or brick, and established a professional fire department.

Arranged in 3 series:

Series 1, June 6, 1889: The FireSeries 2, Ruins after the fireSeries 3, Temporary Structures and Rebuilding

While photographs of the Seattle Fire appear in many Seattle-related photograph collections, this collection represents the most complete compilation of views of the fire and its aftermath. It contains photographs that document the downtown business district during the day of the fire, June 6, 1889, days immediately after the fire, and the rebuilding after the fire including businesses in tents and temporary structures. Many of the photographs were made by William F. Boyd, David R. Judkins, and D.T. Smith.

"Front Street" and "Commercial Street" are now known as First Avenue.

Since the Seattle Fire of 1889 was an important event in the city's history, photographs of the fire and ruins were widely distributed and have come to the collection from a variety of sources. Many photographers were active in the Seattle area at the time so it is often difficult to identify the creator of each image, but the photographer is noted when known. Photographers later would often copy original photographs and put their name on them, further obscuring the true creator of the image.

A number of the photographs have advertising on the back for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found." It is probable that all these photographs were made by William F. Boyd.

View the digital version of the collection

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

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

Processed by Joshua Daniel Franklin, 2005, and Solveig Ekenes, 2006.

Item 85b was accessioned as PH2012-013.

Most of the photographs were transferred from the Seattle Photographs file in 2005; others were transferred from the Boyd and Braas Collection, the David R. Judkins Collection, the D. T. Smith Collection, and the Nathan Eckstein Collection.

McDonald, Robert T., "Business District of City Destroyed by Flames in 1889." Seattle Times, June 6, 1948.

Warren, James R.The Day Seattle Burned: June 6, 1889(Seattle, Washington: J. R. Warren, 1989).

Photographs of the Seattle Fire contained in albums are described in the Guide to the John P. Soule Seattle Fire Collection and the Guide to the Seattle Fire Album.

Online versions of the William F. Boyd Album, the Prosch Seattle Views Album, and the Prosch Washington Views Album contain other photographs of the Seattle Fire in digital format.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Seattle (Wash.)--History--SourcesPhotographsBoyd, William F., 1848-Judkins, David RSmith, David T. (Photographer)Seattle (Wash.)--History--PhotographsFires--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsTemporary Buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--1880-1890--PhotographsGreat Fire, Seattle, Wash., 1889--PhotographsPhotographsSeattlePhotographs

 

Series 1June 6, 1889: The Fire1/11a-bBeginning of the fire, looking south from rooftop near Second Street and Union StreetJune 6, 1889Smith, D.T

2 different copies of the same image. Neither are originals. 1a includes the writing on the mount: "An early view of the fire, while yet confined to the block in which it originated, from Pike Street." 1b is a copy made by Asahel Curtis.

Views south on Front Street, from Spring Street1/22Frye's Opera House on fire as seen from the streetJune 6, 1889 1/33Frye's Opera House catching fire, with Minneapolis Art Studio on the right and a large crowd of people gathering in the streetJune 6, 1889William F. Boyd

This photograph was copied many times over the years by various photographers who cropped it in different ways and often put their own names on it. This version is the uncropped original image.

1/44Frye's Opera House catching fire, with Minneapolis Art Studio on the right and a large crowd of people gathering in the streetJune 6, 1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

Views south on Front Street, from Madison Street1/55Beginning of the fire, showing firefighters battling the blaze, at the southwest corner of Front and MadisonJune 6, 1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

1/66Beginning of the fire, from a rooftop near Madison StreetJune 6, 1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

1/77Beginning of the fire, from a rooftop near Madison Street, with large crowd of people in the streetJune 6, 1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

1/88a-bGoods piled on the dock near the Seattle, Lakeshore & Eastern Railway Depot as smoke from the fire fills the backgroundJune 6, 1889Smith, D.T

2 different copies of the same image. 8b has writing on front reading: "S.L. and E. Depot, the Burning of Seattle from the Docks."

Series 2Ruins after the fireRuins of the Occidental Hotel1/99At Front Street and Yesler Way, near Pioneer SquareJune 7, 1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

1/1010At James Street and Yesler Way1889Boyd and Braas 1/1111Looking northwest down James Street from Yesler Way1889Boyd and Braas 1/12-1312-13Ruins of the hotel between James Street and Yesler Way1889 1/1414aRuins of the hotel1889

There are four photographs on one board. 14b is listed following item 17 and 14b-c are listed following item 35.

1/1515Firefighters standing in the ruins of the hotel1889Bailey, E.J 1/1616Guard and men in front of ruins of the hotel1889Smith, D.T Ruins of the Merchants National Bank1/1717Ruins of the bank at Front Street and Cherry Street1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

1/1414dLooking southwest toward Front Street showing ruins of the bank1889

There are four photographs on one board. 14a is listed following item 13 and 14b-c are listed following item 35.

1/1818Ruins along Front Street, with view of the bank1889Judkins, David R. 1/1919People standing along Front Street, in front of the ruins if the bank1889Smith, D.T 1/2020Ruins on Front Street, looking west on Second Street from Cherry Street, with Merchants National Bank on the left1889Boyd, William F. Ruins of Frye's Opera House1/2121Looking south past the ruins of the Opera House on Front Street near Madison Street1889 1/2222Ruins at Front Street and Marion Street1889Boyd and Braas 1/2323Ruins with fire fighters and a man on a horse, at the northeast corner of Front Street and Marion Street1889 1/2424Ruins of the Opera House1889 Ruins of the Dearborn Building1/2525Ruins south of Yesler Way, with Dearborn Building in the distance1889Judkins, David R. Ruins of the Northwest Cracker Factory1/2626Ruins of the Cracker Factory and a safe on the street1889Judkins, David R. 1/2727Two safes and two men in front of ruins of the Cracker Factory1889Smith, D.T 1/2828Man leaning against a safe by the ruins, with a ship in Elliott Bay in the background1889 Ruins along Front Street and waterfront1/2929Looking south on Front Street from Madison Street, showing cable car tracks1889 1/3030Front Street looking west from between Columbia and Cherry Street1889Boyd, William F.

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

1/3131Photographers with equipment in front of the Safe Deposit Building at 701 Second Avenue1889 1/3232Looking south on Front Street from Columbia Street, showing a trolley1889

Copied (probably by Asahel Curtis) from an original photograph.

1/3333Looking northeast at ruins along the waterfront and Front Street from Ocean Dock1889 1/3434Waterfront at Western Avenue and Columbia Street1889Smith, D.T Ruins along Yesler Way1/3535a-bLooking east from Yesler Wharf on Elliott Bay1889Boyd, William F.

2 copies of the same image. 35b is a slightly cropped version of 35a. Mount of 35a reads: "From the bay, after the fire."

1/1414bLooking south across Yesler Way from near James Street1889

There are four photographs on one board. The 14d is listed following item 17 and 14a follows item 13.

1/1414cLooking east on Yesler Way with ruins of the Post-Intelligencer and Yesler-Leary Buildings on the left1889 1/3636Ruins on Yesler Way1889 Ruins along Commercial Street1/3737Looking north on Commercial Street at the ruins of the Yesler-Leary Building1889Boyd and Braas 1/3838Dexter Horton Bank at Commercial Street and Washington Street1889 1/3939Looking north on Commercial Street1889 Other ruins1/4040Ruins in front of the Boston Block

On the southwest corner of Second and Columbia Street

1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

1/41-4241-42People inspecting ruins along Cherry Street1889

The backs of both photos have advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

1/4343People and the ruins of buildings1889 1/4444a-44bRuins of buildings1889

2 copies of the same image, cropped slightly differently.

1/4545Ruins of buildings1889Rutter, Thomas Series 3Temporary Structures and RebuildingAlong Yesler Way2/146Looking west towards waterfront, showing tents along Yesler WayMcClaire, M.S1889 2/247Looking past Yesler Way, southwest toward Elliott Bay showing tents with businessesBoyd and Braas1889 2/348a-bLooking south showing tents along Yesler Way and construction of the Standard Theatre and other buildingsBoyd and BraasAugust 1889

2 slightly different copies of the same image. 8b is a cropped image of 8a. Writing has been added to the front of 8b, which reads: "Rebuilding after the fire, looking south from Second St."

2/449Looking southeast past triangular block at James Street, showing tents along Yesler WayJudkins, David R.1889 2/5-650-51Looking past James Street, showing tents along Second Street and Yesler Way1889

The backs of both photos have advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

Along Commercial Street2/752Looking north on Commercial Street, showing a small crowd and a guard with safes1889Smith, D.T2/853a-bLooking south on Commercial Street past Dexter Horton Bank, showing a member of the Washington National Guard and 5 men1889

2 copies of the same image, cropped slightly differently. The mount of 53a has caption that reads: "Old Commercial St--now 1st Ave South--the big fire"

Near Front Street and Waterfront2/9-1054-55Lumber and ruins along Front Street1889

The backs of both photos have advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

2/1156a-bLooking east on Cherry Street from Front Street1889

2 copies of the same image. Photo 56b is a copy made by the photographer McManus, who copied many images of the Seattle fire taken by other photographers and added his own inscription to them. Photo 56b has writing on the front that reads: "Looking up Cherry St. from First, Seattle Wash July 1889, ©McManus 1912." It also has text on the back with the title "June 6, 1889-June 6, 1919 Vision Plus Spirit."

2/12-1357-58Waterfront with reconstruction along Front Street1889

The backs of both photos have advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

2/1459Looking north on Front Street from Cherry Street1889

Copied from an original photograph.

2/1560Looking east from Front Street and James Street, showing tents along Second Street and Henry Yesler's mansion on Third Street1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

2/1661Ruins and a horse cart on Front Street, from Columbia Street to Yesler Way1889Boyd and Braas 2/1762Looking west on Columbia Street toward the waterfront1889McClaire, M.S Tacoma Relief Bureau2/1863Large line of people in front of the Tacoma Relief Bureau tent near Third Street and Union Street1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

The Boston Block2/1964Looking northeast from Commercial Street and Jackson Street showing the Boston Block and tents1890

This is a modern copy of a photograph that Asahel Curtis copied. The original photographer is unknown. Curtis copied many images of the fire.

2/2065a-bLooking north on Second Avenue showing the Boston Block and the Stetson-Post BlockJune 6, 1889

2 copies of the same image, cropped slightly differently.

The Washington National Guard2/2166Members of the Guard in front of the old Armory BuildingSmith, D.T., and BartJune 17, 1889 2/2267Two guards posed as though arresting a looter in the ruins, at Front Street looking northeastSmith, D.T1889 2/2368Members of the Guard and other people in the Bureau of Found Goods at the Denny Residence at Third Street and Union Street1889Curtis, Asahel

This is a modern copy of a photograph that Asahel Curtis copied. The original photographer is unknown. Curtis copied many images of the fire.

2/2469Looking east from wharf showing two members of the Washington National GuardCurtis, Asahel1889

This is a modern copy of a photograph that Asahel Curtis copied. The original photographer is unknown. Curtis copied many images of the fire and included them in his collection.

2/2570Member of the Washington National Guard among ruins1889

Copied from an original photograph.

2/2671Looking north on Commercial Street showing a member of the Washington National Guard and two men1889 Tents and temporary housing for businesses and general rebuilding2/2772Temporary buildings and a streetcar trolley1889

Copied from an original photograph.

2/2873Looking west on Main Street showing tentsBoyd, William F.1889 2/2974aSeattle Daily Pressstaff in a tentBoyd and BraasJune 7, 1889 2/2974bPost Intelligencer office on Columbia street after the fireJune 6, 18892/3075Looking southwest from a hill showing tents in the burned district and Elliott Bay1889 2/3176Group of people in front of the tent housing the Southern Restaurant1889

Copied from an original photograph.

2/3277Doctors James Eagleson and Clarence Smith in a tent which served as their temporary office.1889 2/3378Interior of a mercantile business in a tent1889 2/3479Businesses housed in tents and street traffic1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

2/3580Tents and street traffic1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

2/3681Workers excavating1889 2/3782People and tents along a street1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

2/3883People and barrels along a street1889 2/3984People and lumber along a street1889

The back of the photo has advertising for businesses that were in the fire. The caption reads "A Few of the Survivors and Where They May Be Found."

2/3985a-bWorkers on scaffolding to repair the side of Seattle Sale and Feed Stablescirca 1889 2/3986Temporary business buildings on 3rd Ave. near James St., with Yesler residence in background1889

Written on verso: Third looking south from James, 1889, after the fire?