In the last years of the 19th century, Anders Wilse took many photographs of the Seattle waterfront. This photo, taken between 1897 and 1900, shows steamboats near the coal docks of the Oregon Improvement Company. These vessels used coal to fuel  their steam engines. The "Multnomah" (foreground) made regular runs between Olympia and Seattle. The tall masts of sailing ships can be seen in the distance.
<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Multnomah (Ship); Oregon Improvement Company; Piers &amp; wharves; Ships; Waterfronts</li></ul>
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Anders_Beer_Wilse" class="extiw" title="w:en:Anders Beer Wilse"><span title="Norwegian photographer">Anders Beer Wilse</span></a>
</bdi>
circa 1898 <div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1898-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search">Museum of History and Industry</a>