Native American Encampment on Waterfront, Seattle, ca. 1895

In the late 19th century, most local Native Americans had been moved to reservations and were not allowed to live in Seattle. Sometime before 1895, visiting Indian people started camping at Ballast Island, a pile of rocks dumped by ships at the foot of Washington Street. Some sold seafood and souvenirs or looked for odd jobs in the city. Each fall, many camped there on their way to and from harvesting hops.

This photo, probably taken in the 1890s, shows a Native American encampment at Ballast Island on the Seattle waterfront. Some of the people are camping on their canoes. Others have dug a shelter in the nearby rubble.

Original Article