Between about 1888 and 1893, Seattle grocer Charles Louch sold groceries, seeds, cigars and other goods from his store on Front Street (now First Avenue). At some point, he advertised his store, and his 1888 brand of hams and bacon, using give-away photographs of downtown Seattle with his roof sign prominently displayed in the foreground. This photo, taken by Walter Davis for Charles Louch, shows downtown Seattle sometime around 1888. The view is towards the southeast from the waterfront, across Union Street. The two large buildings on the distant skyline are the Territorial University and Providence Hospital.

Handwritten on mount: Looking up 1st Ave, Providence Hospital. Univ. Caption by MOHAI staff.

• Subjects (LCTGM): Business districts--Washington (State)--Seattle; Houses--Washington (State)--Seattle