Unfortunately, many North American cities lack the old stock of historical buildings that can be found in many other parts of the world, particularly Europe. Devastating fires combined with a general lack of will to protect the architectural treasures of the past led to the teardown of many significant buildings. Seattle suffered both of these fates, with a major fire in 1889 that destroyed the entire central business district, and the demolition of many decorative structures throughout the 20th century in the name of 'progress.' 

Looking south along 4th Avenue in 1946, image by Flickr user Rob Ketcherside via Creative Commons

This week's Throwback Thursday travels back in time to 1946 Seattle. Taken on 4th Avenue and looking south towards Pike Street, several department stores lined the roadway, including Burnett Brothers and Carroll's Fine Jewelry. A common sight outside these outlets were street clocks. In 1930, 16 such timepieces were visible just by standing at one corner of this intersection, helping Seattle earn the nickname 'The City of Clocks.' While many of the clocks have since disappeared, some remain standing in their original locations today. 

Looking south along 4th Avenue in 2015, image retrieved from Google Street View

Fast forward to August 2015 and the scene is very different. Many of the historical buildings have been lost, including the structure on the far right which is now the site of the Century Square office complex. The 100-year-old Joshua Green Building at the southwest corner has been preserved, along with the Seaboard Building on the left, which is now home to an eclectic mix of office space, retail, and residences. 

Notable changes between the photographs include the presence of street trees and the absence of the road bisecting the far left section of the image. The tree canopy belongs to Westlake Park, a public plaza opposite the Westlake Center shopping mall. Seattle has a long history of putting the environment and nature at the forefront of their urban planning, frequently topping lists ranking the greenest cities in the United States. The trees provide shade for the plaza, which has come to be known as Seattle's main town square. 

Have an idea for a future Throwback Thursday? Let us know by leaving a comment below!