Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1862 | 1 |
| 1872 | 3 |
| 1876 | 27 |
| 1877 | 15 |
| 1878 | 7 |
| 1879 | 2 |
| 1880 | 5 |
| 1882 | 2 |
| 1883 | 13 |
| 1884 | 14 |
| 1885 | 14 |
| 1886 | 16 |
| 1887 | 15 |
| 1888 | 16 |
| 1889 | 41 |
| 1891 | 8 |
| 1892 | 63 |
| 1893 | 50 |
| 1894 | 63 |
| 1895 | 82 |
| 1897 | 1 |
| 1899 | 14 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1904 | 3 |
| 1909 | 2 |
| 1915 | 1 |
| 1924 | 1 |
| 1929 | 1 |
486 stories matching determin
- Seattle's 1876 Fourth of July Invitation to the Whole Territory
As the United States turned 100, local leaders issued a rallying cry to the whole Washington Territory to descend upon Seattle for a historic 4th of July celebration.
- South Sewer Tunnel Project Stalled
Financial chaos at City Hall halts work on a major infrastructure project, leaving thirty workers unemployed.
- The Mysterious Fate of a Mutilated Man
A tragic case of labor, isolation, and identity emerges in late 19th-century Seattle.
- The Centennial Bash of 1876
A committee of Seattle’s power brokers prepares for a city-wide celebration of the nation’s 100th birthday.
- The Man Who Chased a Dream and Broke His Leg
Nick Haley’s delirious pursuit of an imaginary kidnapper led him out a second-story window—a bizarre accident that highlights the strange intersection of mental health, domestic anxiety, and medical care in early Seattle.
- Snoqualmie Pass: Seattle's Potential Iron Empire
A local developer scouts for iron and copper in the Snoqualmie Pass, hoping to launch a major mining and rail operation that would connect the mountain riches directly to Seattle.
- The Fight for Public Land
Seattle activists organize to challenge the Northern Pacific Railroad's control over vast swaths of Washington Territory.
- The Open Secret of Washington Street
While Seattle’s reform administration promises order, popular gambling dens—including one run by a prominent Democratic politician—operate in plain sight.
- Grand Jury Probes Almshouse Construction and Ex-Treasurer
A grand jury is convened to investigate the alleged criminal 'steals' involving the city treasurer and the construction of the new county almshouse.
- The Unsparing Champion of Right
In 1878, the Weekly Puget Sound Dispatch positioned itself as the 'Fearless Champion' of the common citizen, promising to be the cheapest and most comprehensive source of news in the Washington Territory.
- Seattle Voters Oust Municipal Corruption
A clean sweep at the polls marks the end of the Ronald and Krug administration, signaling a city-wide demand for reform.
- The Final Verdict on the Yesler Fortune
The Supreme Court intervenes in the contentious battle over Sarah Yesler's estate.
- A Populist Outcry Against the 'Money Oligarchy'
Mining tycoon William M. Stewart denounces the economic misery of 1893, blaming the financial elites of New York for the nation's despair.
- Resign in Days, or Face Perjury Charges: Seattle Ultimatum to Two State Officers
Secretary of State Nichols and Insurance Commissioner Schively were given a deadline after a closed-door meeting of the investigating committee — with a hint that worse than perjury could follow.
- The Campaign for the Rhododendron
A grassroots effort at Lee's Pharmacy seeks to crown the rhododendron as the official Washington state flower.
- The New England Hotel's Ban
A local hotel owner strikes a blow against Chinese labor, signaling a rising tide of xenophobic economic policy in the Pacific Northwest.
- Mental Distress and Suicide Attempt in a Seattle Boarding House
A commercial traveler's wife survives a self-inflicted gunshot wound amidst her husband's ongoing financial hardships.
- Tragic Logging Accident at Lake Union
A woodchopper is killed instantly by a falling limb while working near the Lake Union portage.
- The Great Expansion of Seattle's Streetcars
City Hall invites competitive bids for a massive expansion of railway lines, shaping the city's growth in the late 19th century.
- The Palace of Belltown
W. W. Bell constructs a massive, modern hotel at Front and Battery streets, signaling a new era of growth for the northern expansion of Seattle.
- Vigilantism and Intimidation Against Chinese Residents
An attempted assassination of two Chinese men in Seattle is thwarted by police, leading to the arrest of three 'highbinders'.
- The Northern Pacific's Elusive Cascade Branch
A skeptical look at how the Northern Pacific Railroad tried to rebrand its lines to secure land grants in King County.
- The Untimely Death of a Spiritualist's Patient
A coroner investigates a woman's death after she was treated by a spiritualist practicing in the Kline & Rosenberg building.
- The City Treasury Scandal
Seattle sues former treasurer Adolph Krug and his bondsmen after a massive public funds deficiency is uncovered.
- The Lake That Wasn't: A Territorial Identity Crisis
In January 1890, a prominent New York journalist claimed Washington Territory wanted to be called 'Tacoma.' The Seattle Post-Intelligencer fired back with a scathing editorial, proving that the name 'Washington' was not just a political compromise, but a point of fierce local pride.