Economy
Look Back: Seattle During World War I
This photograph is part of WW1 America, a touring exhibit at Seattles Museum of History & Industry.
By John Levesque October 12, 2018
This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the October 2018 issue. Click here for a free subscription.
The United States government sold liberty loan bonds to raise great sums of money during World War I. The second of four bond campaigns generated $3 billion nationwide; the government paid 4 percent interest to investors. Seattles share of the $3 billion quota was $13 million, and on October 27, 1917, military personnel and civilians gathered outside the Seattle Liberty Loan headquarters at Second Avenue and Marion Street to celebrate the citys reaching its goal more than two weeks early. A 40-foot replica of a James Montgomery Flagg recruiting poster was gradually completed as people purchased bonds; the thermometer to the right of the figure also displayed the campaigns progress. This photograph is part of WW1 America, a touring exhibit at Seattles Museum of History & Industry featuring original artifacts, images and multimedia presentations. It continues at MOHAI through February 10, 2019.
See the full image below.
