History of Seattle

1. History of Seattle 1851 - Arthur and David Denny and small group of others migrated west during gold rush. Seattle originally called New York - Alki. Was renamed Seattle after a Duwamish Indian leader named Sealth who befriended the settlers The principal business was Henry Yesler’s lumber mill which was built in 1853. The mill produced much of the materials used in the building of San Francisco as well as the majority of the building in the Seattle area. 1869 territorial legislation incorporated Seattle which at that time had more than 2000 residents

2. In the 1880’s lumber and coal were the primary industries of the area with fishing, wholesale trade, shipbuilding and shipping growing rapidly. It is estimated that in the first half of 1889 Seattle was adding 1,000 new residents a month. June 6, 1889 a fire leveled 116 acres of building in the heart of the Seattle business district with property damage running into the millions of dollars. The fire provided an opportunity for many improvements in the city such as wider roads, a fire department, new wharves and municipal water. Also all new construction was required to be brick or steel.

3. This is the MatilidaWinehall Block which was built as a hotel between 1889 and 1890. This building is an example of structures that were constructed after the fire of 1889

4. The years between 1890 and 1897 were not so prosperous. But in 1897 gold was discovered in Yukon territory and Alaska. This discovery caused Seattle to become a premier outfitting point for prospectors. 1893 Great Northern Railroad reached Seattle further expanding opportunities. And in 1900 Union Pacific and Milwaukee Road system reinforced Seattle as a shipping and trade center. Seattle began to become a very diverse population with the expansion. Scandinavians came to work in the fishing and lumber industries. African American’s came to work as railroad porters and waiters. And Japanese to operate truck gardens and hotels.

5. In 1909 the population of Seattle was nearing 240,000. This is also the year of the International Fair Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition celebrating the economic and cultural links Seattle had along the North Pacific Rim. 1914 – The LC Smith building, a 42 story building was completed. This was the tallest building in the west for four decades. In World War I Seattle supplied 20% of the ships used in the war. In early 1919 shipbuilders struck shipyards to maintain high wartime wages. 1930’s depression hit Seattle hard. 1,0000 people were unemployed, a mini town of shacks and lean to housing sprouted up at the abandoned shipbuilding yards south of pioneer square.

6. World War II brought economic rebound to the city and the shipyards once again flourished. In 1916 Boeing was founded and during WWII they increased there workforce by 1200% and sales went from 10 million to 600 million a year during the war years. Once the war ended Seattle was hit by another economic slump which lasted into the mid 1950’s. Boeing introduced the 707 jetliner in late 1950’s which spurred more economic growth. In 1962 Seattle was the home of the world’s fair which was called Futuristic Century 21 Exposition. Seattle Center, Pacific Science Center, the Monorail and the Space Needle were all constructed for the World’s fair.