South Lake Union in Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Seattle Fire Department bell

1890

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, August 22, 2024

1. Seattle Fire Department bell Marker

Inscription. This 5,000-pound bell sent a strong signal. It hung in Seattle’s first professional fire department headquarters at Columbia Street and Seventh Avenue.

After the great fire destroyed 100 acres of the city’s business district and waterfront in 1889, Seattle organized its first professional fire department. Josiah Collins, chied of the volunteer fire department at the time, commissioned this bell as a gift to the growing city, replacing the one damaged in the fire.

The bell served the station until 1919, when electronic communication made it obsolete. It eventually arrived at MOHAI in time for the 1952 grand opening at the museum’s original location in the Montlake neighborhood. The bell moved with the museum to Lake Union Park in 2012.

Erected by MOHAI (Museum of History & Industry).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 47° 37.65′ N, 122° 20.225′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in South Lake

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Union. It is on Terry Avenue North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 880 Terry Avenue N, Seattle WA 98109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: U.S. Naval Reserve Armory (here, next to this marker); Millstone (a few steps from this marker); Camas Mill Millstone (a few steps from this marker); Clock from Carroll’s Fine Jewelry (within shouting distance of this marker); At Work on Lake Union (within shouting distance of this marker); The Steamer Virginia V (within shouting distance of this marker); Arthur Foss (within shouting distance of this marker); Swiftsure (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all

Seattle Fire Department bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, August 22, 2024

2. Seattle Fire Department bell

The bell is stamped with the following:
Seattle
Centennial Bell Foundry
G. Campbell & Sons, Milwaukee, Wis. 1890

markers in Seattle.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, August 22, 2024

3. Seattle Fire Department bell Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 150 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 8, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.