Regular complaints have been made over the years about the noise made by early morning garbage pickup. For example, in 1941, the manager of the Malloy Apartments in the University District relayed grumbles from his tenants that “the big trucks roar up the alley, the men talk loud and beat… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle’s long-running summer festival Seafair has been an annual tradition for over 75 years. The first Seafair celebration took place in August 1950 and featured parades, boat races, Fleet Week, a royal court, pirates, a new Aqua Theater on Green Lake with synchronized swimming performances by the Aqua Follies, and… [ Keep reading ]
Our volunteer Ilias Bowen-Sicalides recently finished processing a set of Engineering Department records that gives us a fascinating look at street vending carts in the 1970s and 1980s. The Board of Public Works authorized street vending carts in 1972, with a one-page document providing all of the regulations for cart… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle’s iconic Freeway Park opened to the public 50 years ago this month on July 4, 1976. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve created a new online exhibit tracing the history of the park from conception to opening. The exhibit was researched using records in the archives and is illustrated with… [ Keep reading ]
An unusual Department of Community Development report from 1971 was meant to incorporate ecological and urban design factors into Seattle’s city planning efforts. Titled “Determinants of City Form,” the document is more or less an atlas of stylized maps with accompanying narratives. A transmittal letter to the mayor declared the… [ Keep reading ]
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, SMA is presenting the exhibition We the People of Seattle: America at 250. The free display, which is open to all members of the public, is now on view in the Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery on the 3rd floor. Records… [ Keep reading ]
We’re excited to present Lunchtime Rewind—a Lunch & Learn Archival Screening! Take a break and travel back in time with us on Thursday, July 16, from 12:00–12:45 PM for a special screening of archival footage from City Light and the Seattle Channel, featuring: The screening will take place in the… [ Keep reading ]
In June 1980, Seattle Center held its first annual Juneteenth Celebration, a free public event spanning four days which featured exhibits, dances, dramatic performances, concerts, and films. The event was intended to celebrate Juneteenth through visual and performing arts, using the theme of “The Young Black Artist.” National and local… [ Keep reading ]
The first Gay Pride Week in Seattle took place in June 1974 with celebrations including a picnic, street dance, performances, and roller skating at the top of the Volunteer Park Water Tower. The week also saw the official opening of the Gay Community Center on Capitol Hill, which offered a… [ Keep reading ]
In the early 20th century, the campaign for women’s suffrage and activism around prohibition brought women into the public sphere. With the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 giving women the right to vote, the idea of women in the political arena was no longer unthinkable. In 1926, Seattle… [ Keep reading ]
