The former Naval Base, now the MOHAI in Seattle at Lake Union Park

MOHAI, Museum of History and Industry, Seattle WA. Its home is from 1942, a former Naval Reserve Armoury and a Naval Training Center during World War II.

I had been looking forward to seeing this museum as we were visiting Seattle. We wanted to find surviving buildings from constructor Hans Peterson. Through our blogging, we got in contact with Paula Peterson, whose father was a Danish immigrant and builder of Seattle. My father’s uncle lived there at the same time as Hans Peterson,

Wanting to know about the development of the city from the beginning of the twentieth century, I would have liked to have found more of it at the MOHAI.

MOHAI, former Naval Reserve Armory, Seattle Washington. Built 1941-1942 in Moderne and Art Deco features

MOHAI, former Naval Reserve Armory, Seattle Washington. Built 1941-1942 in Moderne and Art Deco features

The museum was new and full of screens with speakers talking about the history of Seattle. There was no way of turning off the volume, so concentrating on reading was nearly impossible. Only a fraction of their stored material is on display.

I found an interesting detail about a stained glass series showing sleigh dogs on their way to the Gold Rush in Yukon. The glass ornamentations have initially been on the Arctic Club, the most prominent of Hans Peterson’s buildings. The Museum Shop had books on the old Seattle only not Paula’s book on Hans Pederson.

We gave the man working there information on the book about the discovery of Paula Pederson’s then-famous father.

Part of the dog Sled stained glass ornamentation

Dog Sled is the best way to get around the Klondike in Winter.

Dog Sled is the best way to get around the Klondike in Winter

The stained glass dog team graces Seattle’s Arctic Club Building around 1909

To get around in Seattle, we discovered that we could buy a transfer ticket on the busses for one dollar. We were “Senior Citizens” which saved us a lot of walking. Each city has it’s own system of transportation, and it takes some time to get acquainted with it.

Smith Tower

Description of Smith Tower built 1914

A closeup on Smith Tower

A glimpse of the Smith Tower from the waterfront

The Smith Tower had an interesting museum with photos and artefacts from its origin. You follow some questionable characters who reigned in the city full of crime and corruption a little more than a hundred years ago.

We came up to the top of the tower by the original old man guided elevator.  A few years ago it was modernised to stop automatically at the different levels. Initially, the driver would manually make it stop at the right place. The guide managed to tell us a lot of stories while going up to the restaurant at the top. You could enter the balcony without having to buy anything in the bar. The view of the city and harbour was stunning.

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The Arctic Club built 1916. Constructor Hans Pederson is honoured with photos on the wall in the Foyer

The Arctic Club on Cherry Street close to the Smith Tower. Hans Peterson was the contractor

A photo with Hans Petersen inside the Arctic Club

A photo with Hans Petersen inside the Arctic Club

The Dome Room inside the Arctic Club

The Dome Room inside the Arctic Club

The walrus ornamentation on the Arctic Club