Vintage Photos Capture Street Scenes of Seattle in the 1970s

The streets of Seattle in the 1970s presented a gritty, transitional urban landscape, a distinct departure from the gleaming tech hub of today. Downtown, areas around First Avenue and Pike Place Market buzzed with a diverse mix of long-haired counter-culture youths, sailors from the nearby port, and working-class locals.

Fashion was a collision of styles: bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye shirts, and military surplus jackets were commonplace sights, often worn under the perpetual gray skies. The air carried the smells of fresh fish and strong coffee mixed with exhaust fumes from classic American cars: Chevys, Fords, and Volkswagens that dominated traffic, as the city had not yet fully embraced modern public transit.

The 1970s vibe was defined by an earthy, slightly rough-around-the-edges authenticity, as Seattle navigated a period of economic fluctuation and cultural change. These vintage photos, from duckswim2, capture street scenes of Seattle in March 1977.

View from bus to downtown, the Hat 'n' Boots Texaco Gas Station, Seattle, Washington, 1977

Hat 'n' Boots, Seattle, Washington, 1977

View from downtown to Space Needle, Seattle, Washington, 1977

Pioneer Building, Downtown Seattle, Washington, 1977

A building at night, Seattle, Washington, 1977

Boeing Field, Seattle. AWAC KC-135s under construction or upgrade. View from bus from Seattle, Washington, 1977

Bus ride from downtown Seattle, Washington, 1977

Car Wash, Seattle, Washington, 1977

Downtown Seattle with Space Needle, Washington, 1977

Downtown Seattle, parking on a wharf and a bevy of big cars and one small one with a boat on its roof, Washington, 1977

Downtown Seattle, Washington, 1977

Flight Center employee parking view from bus ride, Seattle, Washington, 1977

Hiking east of Seattle in the Cascades, Washington, 1977

I-90 bridge and tunnel, Seattle, Washington, 1977

I-90 Tunnel, Seattle, Washington, 1977

Men's Hats, Seattle, Washington, 1977

Mountain skiing, east of Seattle, Washington, 1977

Seattle Tacoma International Airport, Washington, 1977

Seattle, Washington, 1977

The Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington, 1977

View along route to downtown from airport, Seattle, Washington, 1977