<p>The Great Fire of June 6, 1889 was a turning point in Seattle's history, destroying 100 acres of Seattle's business district and waterfront, changing both the physical and political landscapes of the city. The city didn't take much time to mourn; by July, businesses throughout the burned-out area had reopened in tents, houses, or wherever they could find space. Most businesses decided to rebuild where they had been, and rebuilding began almost immediately.
The view on this postcard shows the aftermath of the fire, with the Bank of Commerce at Second and Cherry still standing in the foreground, and numerous businesses set up in tents in the near distance. </p>
<p>Original photograph by John P. Soule, July 1889. Copied in 1912 by McManus.</p>
<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Fires--Washington (State)--Seattle; Great Fire, Seattle, Wash., 1889; Photographic postcards; Temporary buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle</li></ul>
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:John_P._Soule" class="extiw" title="w:en:John P. Soule"><span title="American photographer">John P. Soule</span></a>
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<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search">Museum of History and Industry</a>