<p>This photograph of Holgate Street looking east towards Beacon Hill depicts two workmen at ground level, perhaps working on the pilings which raise the street and buildings above the marshy ground. Other pedestrians are also visible. This area south of downtown Seattle was originally made up of tidal flats; soil dredged from the Duwamish River and sluiced from the Denny triangle and Beacon Hill regrades was used to create this industrial area needed by area businesses and railroads.
This photo is from an album of photographs documenting Beacon Hill and construction around Seattle in 1923, probably of projects by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company (later Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company), a major contributor to the construction of the Pacific Northwest. All of the photos were taken by noted Seattle photographer Asahel Curtis. </p>
<p>Signs in photo: Great Western Smelting &amp; Refining Co.; Velvet, America's Smoothest Smoke; Alaska Stables, 1901 9th Ave; Horse Shoe Tobacco

 Inscribed on negative: Looking east on Holgate St toward 9th Ave. S., 5-22-23</p>
<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Building construction--Washington (State)--Seattle; Business districts--Washington (State)--Seattle</li></ul>
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Asahel_Curtis" class="extiw" title="w:en:Asahel Curtis"><span title="American photographer">Asahel Curtis</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>