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YOU MIGHT HAVE GONE PAST THIS ALL YOUR LIFE: Photographs of Public Art In The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel

29 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by kcarchivist in Photographs

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Tags

archives, history, metro, public art, transit

People celebrating opening of bus tunnel
Opening day for the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, September 15, 1990. [From Photographs: Prints, Office of Information Resource Management: Service Development / Printing and Graphic Arts, Series 1147, Box 1, Folder 20, 1147-1-20-001_8285-3-41_Opening, 1990]

Among the hundreds of digitized records we have available that represent documents, maps, and photographs from our collection, I’ve recently discovered a bounty of photographs documenting local transit projects that have brought me great joy. Series 1147 includes several photographs of people, places, and activities, many of which are related to Metro transit from the 1970s-1990s. But among many of the photographs documenting buildings and the landscape of major transit thoroughfares in downtown Seattle, it’s the photographs of transit history that is right under our feet that I’ve found most captivating.

Traveling around King County, you may have noticed a lot of public art out there. There are great examples on sidewalks, office building plazas, parks, waterfronts, and more. If you’ve ever been down into the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel among the hustle of commuters, did you notice the murals and decorative elements of the floral tiles on the walls at Westlake or the structural arch tubing at the above-ground entrance to the former Convention Place Station? The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel started bus service through the tunnel just over 30 years ago, back in the Fall of 1990. Moving through the tunnel to get to the bus (and now just the light rail), it’s easy to pass on by the art and architectural design of each station that runs through the downtown corridor. These sometimes-hidden gems, are the product of more than 30 artworks that were commissioned from 25 artists during the planning and building phase for the tunnel back in the 1980s. The concepts and design for the art and architecture of each station are a response to the neighborhoods each station exists within. From northeast downtown to the south in the International District, the original footprint of the tunnel system was 5 stations:

Convention Place–>Westlake–>University Street–>Pioneer Square–>International District.

While I’m still going through the photographs we have of the public art installed throughout the five stations in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, I want to call out a few photographs that I’ve identified so far at two of the original five stations. Let’s take a look at the former station to the northern end of downtown:

–>Convention Place

Formerly situated at 9th Ave and Pine Street in front of the Paramount Theatre to greet travelers and commuters heading into the tunnel to go north to the U District or south to the International District and beyond, the Convention Place Station was the northern starting point to go underground and travel the length of the downtown area in a matter of minutes. Named for its proximity to the Washington State Convention Center, the station existed and operated bus travel in this space until its closure in 2018. Today, transit riders traveling south in the tunnel are arriving from the Capitol Hill Station situated up on Broadway East between East Olive Way and East Denny Way in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

While in operation as a tunnel station, this open-air station featured art and architecture with Alice Adams and Jack Mackie as the lead artists and architect Robert Jones as the station designer. One of the most prominent artworks at this station was the dual marquee entrance that met travelers going in and out of the southside of the station plaza at surface street level to pop over to the Paramount or elsewhere into downtown. Designed by artist Alice Adams, the dual marquee design pictured below included metal and neon tubing inspired by the Paramount Theatre marquee across the street and NYC’s Chrysler Building.

Install of artwork in front of Paramount Theatre
Install of Alice Adams’ marquee artwork. [From Photographs: Prints, Office of Information Resource Management: Service Development / Printing and Graphic Arts, Series 1147, Box 1, Folder 21, 1147-1-21-020_7965-17_ConstrParamount, undated]
Detail image of neon tubing on sign
Detail image of neon tubing in Alice Adams’ marquee artwork. [From Photographs: Prints, Office of Information Resource Management: Service Development / Printing and Graphic Arts, Series 1147, Box 5, Folder 13, 1147-5-13-116, undated]

From the former Convention Place Station, let’s move on down to the next station on the tunnel route to stop in at Westlake Station.

–>Westlake

Located between 4th and 6th Ave on Pine Street, the station continues to serve travelers and commuters in the Westlake Center and Westlake Park area. With Jack Mackie as the lead artist and architect Brent Carlson as the station designer, the station art and design are characteristic of the Westlake shopping hub and gathering place of the Westlake Park plaza that surround the surface streets of the station.

One artwork that you might have missed buzzing through the station are the terra-cotta tiles that line the south wall of the station. The tiles are relief designs of roots and vines evocative of Westlake Park just above on the surface. Below is artist Jack Mackie developing the relief style of one of the terra-cotta tiles that would eventually go onto the entire garden wall.

Artist working on sculpture
Artist Jack Mackie working on terra-cotta tile for the garden wall install at Westlake Station. [From Photographs: Prints, Office of Information Resource Management: Service Development / Printing and Graphic Arts, Series 1147, Box 5, Folder 13, 1147-5-13-114, undated]
Wall with terra-cotta artwork
The terra-cotta tile wall by artist Jack Mackie installed at Westlake Station. [From Photographs: Prints, Office of Information Resource Management: Service Development / Printing and Graphic Arts, Series 1147, Box 5, Folder 13, 1147-5-13-113, undated]

And at the busy platform of transit riders idling for the next light rail to come or hustling by to the next destination on the surface streets, this Roger Shimomura mural is just one of the murals representing the public that moves about the city and surrounding areas each day. Other murals at Westlake Station not pictured here are by Fay Jones and Gene Gentry McMahon.

Image of mural
Panoramic image of mural by artist Roger Shimomura installed at Westlake Station. [From Photographs: Prints, Office of Information Resource Management: Service Development / Printing and Graphic Arts, Series 1147, Box 5, Folder 15, 1147-5-15-089, undated]

The above artworks and artists are certainly not the only public art to be enjoyed or reminisced throughout the tunnel’s history. I’m only just discovering all these public art photos and in time I hope that the tour can continue on down through the tunnel. Thanks for joining me on this brief trip!

Clock artwork being installed
Install of the 3rd and University street clock artwork designed by artist Heather Ramsay. [From Photographs: Prints, Office of Information Resource Management: Service Development / Printing and Graphic Arts, Series 1147, Box 1, Folder 27, 1147-1-27-049_8099-8A_3rdAveClockInstall, undated]

Want to learn more?

If you’d like to learn more about the public art in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, the following articles were very helpful in gathering details for this post. The articles cover much more about the opening of the transit tunnel and the artists and intent involved in the art and design of each tunnel station.

  • ‘Art-itecture’ of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, Your guide to the tunnel’s built-in public art By King County Metro
  • Bus service begins in downtown Seattle transit tunnel on September 15, 1990. By Walt Crowley, HistoryLink.org, September 15th, 2000

Other resources to learn more about the tunnel construction and design:

  • Scenes from the late 1980s: Looking back at the construction of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, by Jill Anderson, Bytes and Boxes, March 21st, 2019
  • Tunnel Visions — Bus Labyrinth Beneath Seattle Spawns Gallery by Karen Mathieson, Seattle Times, September 12th, 1990
  • Currents; In Commuter Tunnel, Art at Every Stop by Patricia Leigh Brown, New York Times, October 4th, 1990

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Scenes from the late 1980s: Looking back at the construction of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel

21 Thursday Mar 2019

Posted by kcarchivist in Commemorative observances, Events, Exhibits, Photographs

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archives, buses, construction, convention place station, downtown seattle transit tunnel, dstt, history, infrastructure, international district station, king street station, light rail, metro, ned ahrens, old seattle, paramount theatre, pioneer square station, retail history, seattle, sinkhole, stores, surveying, surveys, tbm, transit, transit stations, tunnel boring machine, tunnels, underground, union station, university station, westlake station

On March 23, the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT) will convert to Link light rail trains only, and bus service will be moved to surface streets. At the Archives, we’re reminiscing over these photographs of its construction, showing a glimpse of 1980s Seattle and the people who built the tunnel.

The photos below come from Series 1844: Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project files and Series 1147: Office of Information Resource Management Printing and Graphic Arts photographs. Ask an archivist if you have any questions about any of these photographs or the other transit-related records held at the King County Archives.

Pre-Construction Survey

As construction began, Metro staff took photographs of the interior and exterior of buildings along the tunnel’s route, ostensibly to document the current condition of the structures.

Nordstrom Best, 1536 Westlake Ave (Feb 17, 1987)
Nordstrom Best, 1536 Westlake Ave (Feb 17, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Frederick & Nelson, 500 Pine St (Feb 24, 1987)
Spin's Tavern, 521 3rd Ave (Mar 4, 1987)
Spin’s Tavern, 521 3rd Ave (Mar 4, 1987)
Spin's Tavern, 521 3rd Ave (Mar 4, 1987)
Spin’s Tavern, 521 3rd Ave (Mar 4, 1987)
Jay Jacobs, 1530 5th Ave (Mar 5, 1987)
Jay Jacobs, 1530 5th Ave (Mar 5, 1987)
Jay Jacobs, 1530 5th Ave (Mar 5, 1987)
Jay Jacobs, 1530 5th Ave (Mar 5, 1987)
Jay Jacobs, 1530 5th Ave (Mar 5, 1987)
Jay Jacobs, 1530 5th Ave (Mar 5, 1987)
Bruno Magli, 511 Pine St (Mar 5, 1987)
Bruno Magli, 511 Pine St (Mar 5, 1987)
Klopfenstein's, 600 Pine St (Mar 6, 1987)
Klopfenstein’s, 600 Pine St (Mar 6, 1987)
Century Square, 1529 4th Ave (Apr 7, 1987)
Century Square, 1529 4th Ave (Apr 7, 1987)
Century Square, 1529 4th Ave (Apr 7, 1987)
Century Square, 1529 4th Ave (Apr 7, 1987)
B. Dalton (Century Square), 1529 4th Ave (Apr 7, 1987)
B. Dalton (Century Square), 1529 4th Ave (Apr 7, 1987)
Lobby of the Pacific Building, 720 3rd Ave (Sep 14, 1987)
Lobby of the Pacific Building, 720 3rd Ave (Sep 14, 1987)
The Goodie Box (Dexter Horton Building), 709 3rd Ave (Sep 14, 1987)
The Goodie Box (Dexter Horton Building), 709 3rd Ave (Sep 14, 1987)
Kay's Cookie Kitchen, 1111 3rd Ave (Oct 23, 1987)
Kay’s Cookie Kitchen, 1111 3rd Ave (Oct 23, 1987)
Kay's Cookie Kitchen, 1111 3rd Ave (Oct 23, 1987)
Kay’s Cookie Kitchen, 1111 3rd Ave (Oct 23, 1987)
Theatre Building, 1515 3rd St (Nov 12, 1987)
Theatre Building, 1515 3rd St (Nov 12, 1987)
Smoke Shop (Sterling Building), 1412 3rd Ave (Dec 10, 1987)
Smoke Shop (Sterling Building), 1412 3rd Ave (Dec 10, 1987)

Documenting Construction

During construction, thousands of photographs were taken, in a variety of formats, to document the complex work required to dig the tunnel and prepare it for service. The photographs below are from the project files and were taken by Ray Halvorson, Ed Hunter, Norm Nelson, Vic Oblas, Keith Nordlund, and Merdad Shahverdi.

Convention Place demolition (May 4, 1987) - Ray Halvorson
Convention Place demolition (May 4, 1987) – Ray Halvorson
Convention Place demolition (May 4, 1987) - Ray Halvorson
Convention Place demolition (May 4, 1987) – Ray Halvorson
Tunnel construction (May 4, 1987) - Ray Halvorson
Tunnel construction (May 4, 1987) – Ray Halvorson
5th Ave/6th Ave Alley Duct Bank (May 6, 1987) - Ray Halvorson
5th Ave/6th Ave Alley Duct Bank (May 6, 1987) – Ray Halvorson
Westlake Center construction (May 13, 1987 - Ray Halvorson
Westlake Center construction (May 13, 1987 – Ray Halvorson
Westlake Center (May 21, 1987) - Ray Halvorson
Westlake Center (May 21, 1987) – Ray Halvorson
Tunnel construction (Apr 22, 1987) - Keith Nordlund
Tunnel construction (Apr 22, 1987) – Keith Nordlund
Pile drilling by auger (May 13, 1987) - Merdad Shahverdi
Pile drilling by auger (May 13, 1987) – Merdad Shahverdi
Excavation, Pine St (Jun 29, 1987) - Merdad Shahverdi
Excavation, Pine St (Jun 29, 1987) – Merdad Shahverdi
Tunnel construction (May 5, 1987) - Vic Oblas
Tunnel construction (May 5, 1987) – Vic Oblas
Tunnel boring machine near King Street Station (May 10, 1987) - Vic Oblas
Tunnel boring machine near King Street Station (May 10, 1987) – Vic Oblas
MH20 placement (Aug 12, 1987) - Ed Hunter
MH20 placement (Aug 12, 1987) – Ed Hunter
12' diameter rebar structure, Convention Place (Jul 28, 1987) - Merdad Shahverdi
12′ diameter rebar structure, Convention Place (Jul 28, 1987) – Merdad Shahverdi
Tunnel construction (Jun 2, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel construction (Jun 2, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel construction (Jul 6, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel construction (Jul 6, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel construction (Jun 26, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel construction (Jun 26, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel construction (Jun 26, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel construction (Jun 26, 1987) – Norm Nelson

Station Construction (1987)

The following photographs were taken by Norm Nelson and Vic Oblas.

Tunnel station construction (Aug 5, 1987) - Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Aug 5, 1987) – Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Aug 14, 1987) - Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Aug 14, 1987) – Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Sep 23, 1987) - Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Sep 23, 1987) – Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Sep 24, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 24, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 24, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 24, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 24, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 24, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 24, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 24, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 25, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 25, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 25, 1987) - Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Sep 25, 1987) – Norm Nelson
Tunnel station construction (Oct 13, 1987) - Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Oct 13, 1987) – Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Oct 13, 1987) - Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Oct 13, 1987) – Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Nov 4, 1987) - Vic Oblas
Tunnel station construction (Nov 4, 1987) – Vic Oblas

Station Construction: International District (1988-1989)

International District Station construction (Sep 26, 1988)
International District Station construction (Sep 26, 1988)
Dan Graczyk, Manager of Transit Operations for Metro Tunnel Project (Sep 28, 1988)
Dan Graczyk, Manager of Transit Operations for Metro Tunnel Project (Sep 28, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 4, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 4, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 4, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 4, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 4, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 4, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 4, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 4, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 6, 1988)
International District Station construction (Oct 6, 1988)
International District Station construction (Jul 13, 1989)
International District Station construction (Jul 13, 1989)
International District Station construction (Jul 11, 1989)
International District Station construction (Jul 11, 1989)
International District Station construction (no date)
International District Station construction (no date)
International District Station construction (Sep 26, 1988)
International District Station construction (Sep 26, 1988)

Station Construction: Pioneer Square Station (1988-1989)

South Portal BNRR Tunnel: Colbeck flatcar with compressor sandblaster (Jun 1, 1988)
South Portal BNRR Tunnel: Colbeck flatcar with compressor sandblaster (Jun 1, 1988)
South Portal BNRR Tunnel: Colbeck Sandblast train (Jun 1, 1988)
South Portal BNRR Tunnel: Colbeck Sandblast train (Jun 1, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 1, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 1, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jun 17, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jun 17, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Feb 15, 1989)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Feb 15, 1989)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 9, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 9, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jun 17, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jun 17, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jun 17, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jun 17, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jul 18, 1989)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jul 18, 1989)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 1, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 1, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 1, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 1, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jul 18, 1989)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Jul 18, 1989)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 9, 1988)
Pioneer Square Station construction (Dec 9, 1988)

Station Construction: Various (1989)

Station construction (Dec 7, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 7, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 7, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 7, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 14, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 14, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 11, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 11, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 19, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 19, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 11, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 11, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 14, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 14, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 12, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 12, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 14, 1989)
Station construction (Dec 14, 1989)

Station Construction: University Street Station (1990)

University Street Station construction (Feb 1, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Feb 1, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Mar 15, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Mar 15, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Mar 15, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Mar 15, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Mar 15, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Mar 15, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Jan 12, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Jan 12, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Jan 17, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Jan 17, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Jan 22, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Jan 22, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Mar 19, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Mar 19, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Feb 1, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Feb 1, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Jan 12, 1990)
University Street Station construction (Jan 12, 1990)

The photographs below are from Printing and Graphic Arts. Photographers include Ned Ahrens, Tim Healy, and Barton L. Attebery.

1147-1-21-008_8011-34_TunnelRail_thumb
Construction area, 9th Ave and Pine St
Construction area, 9th Ave and Pine St
1147-1-27-051_CementTrucks_thumb
Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Sinkhole, 6th Ave (Mar 1987)
Sinkhole, 6th Ave (Mar 1987)
Sinkhole, 3rd Ave and Spring St (Oct 1987)
Sinkhole, 3rd Ave and Spring St (Oct 1987)
1147-1-27-041_7842-19_MovingBeams_thumb
1147-1-27-028_8116-4_BusAndConstr_thumb
Viewing area
Viewing area
Mannequins in a window near the construction (Jul 1987)
Mannequins in a window near the construction (Jul 1987)
Burlington Northern tunnel
Burlington Northern tunnel
1147-1-22-003_5999-24_OpenBusinesses_thumb

Tunnel Construction

1147-1-25-002_7481-5A_TunnelLight_thumb
Westlake construction
Westlake construction
1147-1-25-004_7479-10_Machinery_thumb
1147-1-20-012_Construction_thumb
1147-1-25-005_8093-3rdAveTunnel_thumb
1147-1-27-007_DSTPConst_thumb
1147-1-27-045_7087-11A_DSTPConstr_thumb
Tunnel boring machine
Tunnel boring machine
Tunnel boring machine
Tunnel boring machine
1147-1-27-016_7469-29_TunnelTools_thumb
1147-1-27-043_TruckInTunnel_thumb

Station Construction

1147-1-23-001_Constr_thumb
International District Station, Union Station, and the Kingdome
International District Station, Union Station, and the Kingdome
Smoothing concrete
Smoothing concrete
Installing tiles at International District Station
Installing tiles at International District Station
1147-1-26-003_7664-9_StairsConstr_thumb
1147-1-26-007_Worker_thumb
1147-1-26-008_7664-8_StairsConstr_thumb
Westlake Station
Westlake Station
1147-1-26-012_ConstInt_thumb
1147-1-27-029_IntConstr_thumb
Westlake construction
Westlake construction
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station entrance
Pioneer Square Station entrance
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station entrance
Pioneer Square Station entrance
Bird's-eye view of Convention Place Station
Bird’s-eye view of Convention Place Station
1147-1-21-019_7966-27_Worker_thumb
Convention Place Station
Convention Place Station
Convention Place Station, in front of the Paramount Theatre
Convention Place Station, in front of the Paramount Theatre
1147-1-20-013_8080-31A_Worker_thumb
1147-1-20-009_7678-28A_Tunnel_thumb
Laying rails at Convention Place Station
Laying rails at Convention Place Station
Pioneer Square Station tunnel segments
Pioneer Square Station tunnel segments
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station

The people who built the tunnel

1147-1-20-005_7989-20_Truck_thumb
1147-1-21-010_7163-33_ConstrTube_thumb
1147-1-27-014_Surveyor_thumb
1147-1-27-015_7942-7_Staff_thumb
Tunnel workers take a break
Tunnel workers take a break
Installing rail
Installing rail
1147-1-27-031_StaffConstr_thumb
1147-1-27-032_7842-9_StaffMetalBeams_thumb
Relocating utilities
Relocating utilities
Drilling tests, with Smith Tower in the background
Drilling tests, with Smith Tower in the background
1147-1-27-037_7087-18A_DSTP_thumb
Moving utilities near 3rd Ave
Moving utilities near 3rd Ave
The Bon Marché, 3rd Ave and Pine St
The Bon Marché, 3rd Ave and Pine St
Metro staff on the Monorail tracks
Metro staff on the Monorail tracks
Drilling near Pine St
Drilling near Pine St
1147-1-27-046_7087-17A_DSTPConstr_thumb
Employees tour the tunnel
Employees tour the tunnel
Employees tour the tunnel
Employees tour the tunnel
Employees tour the tunnel
Employees tour the tunnel
Employees tour the tunnel
Employees tour the tunnel
Tunnel breakthrough
Tunnel breakthrough
Control room for the tunnel
Control room for the tunnel

Tunnel Stations

University Street Station entrance (Dec 1991)
University Street Station entrance (Dec 1991)
University Street Station
University Street Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Pioneer Square Station
Panorama of Convention Place Station; Paramount Theatre is on the right
Panorama of Convention Place Station; Paramount Theatre is on the right
Convention Place Station
Convention Place Station
Convention Place Station
Convention Place Station
Pioneer Square Station gates
Pioneer Square Station gates
Pioneer Square Station entrance
Pioneer Square Station entrance

DSTT Events

Tunnel run (Sep 1990)
Tunnel run (Sep 1990)
First day of tunnel operations: first bus through (Sep 15, 1990) - Ned Ahrens
First day of tunnel operations: first bus through (Sep 15, 1990) – Ned Ahrens
First day of tunnel operations: first bus through (Sep 15, 1990) - Ned Ahrens
First day of tunnel operations: first bus through (Sep 15, 1990) – Ned Ahrens
Tunnel completed festivities (Nov 1988)
Tunnel completed festivities (Nov 1988)
1147-1-21-003_7518-5-28_WomanBucket_thumb
1147-1-27-017_7819-13_BusInTunnel_thumb
A model poses in front of a tunnel opening
A model poses in front of a tunnel opening
Mighty Mole, mascot for the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, at the tunnel breakthrough
Mighty Mole, mascot for the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, at the tunnel breakthrough
Mighty Mole enjoying breakfast
Mighty Mole enjoying breakfast
Mighty Mole and Jack Kent (1987)
Mighty Mole and Jack Kent (1987)

As we say bon voyage to the buses leaving the tunnel, contact the Archives for more information about the photographs above, to make an appointment to see more, or to ask an archivist about anything else related to King County history!

Digitization and description of photographs: Amanda Demeter and Danielle Coyle

Text and arrangement: Jill Anderson

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Aerials: a bird’s eye view

24 Wednesday Aug 2016

Posted by kcarchivist in Newly Accessioned, Photographs

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Tags

aerials, kingdome, metro, transit

The Archives recently accessioned a small collection of records from the King County Department of Transportation’s Transit Division. These records include photographic prints, negatives and slides that were produced in planning for improvement or expansion of Metro bus bases.

A basic principle in archives is that records can have value beyond the original purpose for which they were created. Although we can certainly learn about the physical layout, equipment, and condition of the Metro bases in the 1980s and 1990s from this collection, the photographs also give us other information. Many photographs in the series show building interiors and exteriors, and of course, buses.  Here we will be talking about aerial photographs of the different Metro bases that were taken in 1991 and 1992.

1954_CentralBasePhotographerNedAhrens001_small

Central Base (Seattle), 6/18/1991. Photographer Ned Ahrens.  (Central Base is in the lower-right quarter of the image.)

Looking into the past

One way to use aerial photographs is to see how a place has changed over time. The Kingdome, seen in the above photograph, is a memory (to some), now replaced by CenturyLink Field. Below, photographs of Seattle’s “Hooverville,” taken during the Great Depression, show the same part of the city — from closer-in and at a lower angle — as it appeared in the 1930s. Landmarks like Smith Tower in the image on the right and the waterfront on the left help us compare the cityscapes.

275-14-370_90.2.3167 275-7-64_90.2.1794

King County Archives Series 275,  Department of Public Health, images 90.2.3167, 2/6/1933  (top or left) and  90.2.1794, 7/20/1932  (lower or right).

Oblique vs. vertical

The Metro base photos are taken at an oblique angle, which allows us to see topography, building height, and details of the urban landscape that we would not see in a straight vertical shot. Oblique photographs show space in linear perspective (more distant objects appear smaller), and lenses can introduce distortion, as below.

1954_CentralBase001_PhotographerKeithPurves_small

Central Base (Seattle), 8/17/1992. Photographer Keith Purves.

Making maps

Vertical aerial photography minimizes distortion and was first introduced for use in mapping. The King County Assessor’s WPA-funded 1936 Land Use Survey project combined data from traditional field surveying with systematic aerial photography to create a more accurate record of property throughout the County.

Making meaning

In an archival collection of agency working files, notations can add meaning to a record. The below photograph of Ryerson Base (west of Central Base) came with a plastic overlay that indicates in striped tape a path that now, over 20 years later, is a segment of the SODO Multi-Use Trail, adjacent to Sound Transit’s light rail tracks.  Related records in the collection may tell us the intent behind highlighting the right-of-way as part of facility planning in the 1990s.  Without that context, we can guess but can’t know its original purpose.

1954_RyersonBase_w_overlay_PhotographerKeithPurves003_small

Ryerson Base (facing north, view of downtown Seattle), 8/11/1992. Photographer Keith Purves.

Applications of aerial photography

Aerial photography has many applications in the natural sciences, such as geology and hydrology, as well as in social science and engineering fields, such as archaeology, transportation, and urban planning. In the below image, we see a mix of light industrial uses alongside treed areas and bodies of water near the Bellevue Base. Though the landscape is not idyllic and can hardly be seen as “green,” we are reminded that the this type of space supports functional uses upon which we depend, including Metro’s environmentally friendly bus service.

1954_BellevueBase_PhotographeUnk006small

Bellevue Base, 6/18/1991. Photographer not identified.

Reflection

Seeing the land from bird’s eye view can help us reflect on the spaces we use and inhabit. Aerials can be beautiful as photographs and compositions, with their unexpected patterns and dramatic forms, combined with familiar landscapes and the details of daily life. Following are a few more images from the series.

1954_CentralBase_PhotographerKeithPurves002_small

Central Base (Seattle), 8/11/1992.  Photographer Keith Purves.

1954_North_Base002_small

North Base (Shoreline), 3/20/1991. Photographer not identified.

1954_BellevueBase_PhotographerKeithPurves002_small

Bellevue Base, 8/17/1992. Photographer Keith Purves.

1954_RyersonBase_PhotographerKeithPurves004_small

Ryerson Base (facing South), 8/11/1992. Photographer Keith Purves.

 

More on aerial photography

To learn more about aerial photographs in the King County Archives collection and elsewhere, please see our guide, Aerial Photographs.

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