Houseboats
VIDEO SOUNDTRACK MUSIC
“Cat Slide” by Bob Vander Pyl, @1994
“In My Merry Oldsmobile” by Gus Edwards & Vincent P. Bryan, 1905 (Public Domain)
“Sidewalk Blues” by Jelly Roll Morton’s Peppers, 1926 (Public Domain)
IMAGE SOURCES
“Aerial view of Westlake neighborhood & houseboats from east, Seattle, 1966.” Photographer: Bob Miller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer staff. Museum of History & Industry 1986.5.9756
“Hotel Penbrook interior, Seattle, 1944.” Photographer: Webster & Stevens. Museum of History & Industry 1983.10.14706.6
“Men inside Skid Road flophouse, Seattle, 1950.” Photographer: Dick Cameron. Museum of History & Industry 1986.5.1189.1
“Wanigan, forerunner of houseboats.” University of Washington Libraries, courtesy of Howard Droker
“Bird’s-eye view of greater Seattle and vicinity.” By H. Epting, 1908. University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Division
“Lake Washington houseboat, 1903.” University of Washington Libraries, courtesy of Howard Droker
“Houseboat, unidentified location.” University of Washington Libraries SEA1191
“Houseboat on Lake Washington, 1907.” University of Washington Libraries
“Houseboat for sale on Lake Washington, 1911.” University of Washington Libraries SEA 1194
“The heyday of Lake Washington houseboats, 1912.” University of Washington Libraries, courtesy of Howard Droker
“Houseboat Interior, 1905.” Photographer: Webster & Stevens. Museum of History & Industry 1983.10.7356.1
“Women posed for a group portrait in the deck of a houseboat, probably north of Madison Street, Lake Washington.” Photographer: James P. Lee. University of Washington Libraries LEE049
“Amelia Batrack’s grocery boat, 1938.” Seattle Historical Society, courtesy of Howard Droker
“King County Sheriff Matt Starwich destroying bottles of confiscated alcohol, ca. 1925.” University of Washington Libraries SOC427
‘Still confiscated from bootleggers, Seattle, ca. 1921.” Photographer: Webster & Stevens. Museum of History & Industry 1983.10.2020
“Police with confiscated stills, Kent, ca. 1928.” White River Valley Museum 1267
“Houseboat, unidentified location, 1928.” University of Washington Libraries SEA1192
“Houseboat dock, 1977.” Photographer: Howard Droker
“Terry Pettus, 1977.” Photographer: Howard Droker
‘Terry Pettus, watering begonias, 1977.” Photographer: Howard Droker
Today, the houseboats of Lake Union are among Seattle’s most desirable homes and treasured landmarks. Learn about their origins as a refuge for the homeless, and how the city spent much of the 20th century trying to get rid of them.
©2009 Vaun S. Raymond vaun@u.washington.edu
Lake Union’s Houseboats with Howard Droker (5:30)
Intro
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