File:Downtown Seattle street scene, vicnity of Seneca St, ca 1901-1903 (SEATTLE 3911).jpg

English:

This may be a view looking down Seneca St. from 1st Ave., or it may be the first half of the block from Seneca St. to University St. on the west side of 3rd Ave. PH Coll 481.35

• Subjects (LCTGM): Dwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle; Streets--Washington (State)--Seattle
• Subjects (LCSH): Seneca Street (Seattle, Wash.); Dwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle; Streets--Washington (State)--Seattle

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  Hotel Ramona (at right) about 1890
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  On the the west side of 3rd Ave between Spring and Seneca, from the same series by Curtis.
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  On the the west side of 3rd Ave between Madison and Spring, from the same series by Curtis.

So says University of Washington Libraries. Given that this appears to be roughly level from side to side, with a slope going down toward the background, looking down Seneca St. from 1st Ave. would seem to be impossible. Also, the northwest corner of First and Seneca was the Hotel Ramona, built c. 1890.

Third Avenue at the time was much less built up. See, for example, the two pictures above, both of the west side of Third Avenue, and both within 2 blocks of the purported location, from this same series by Asahel Curtis. So it seems pretty clear that this would be Third Avenue between Seneca and University, not looking down Seneca St. from 1st Ave.