SEATTLE — Scarecrow Video has purchased its longtime University District home, securing the future of what organizers say is the world’s largest publicly accessible physical media collection just months after building damage forced a temporary closure.
The nonprofit announced the purchase Monday, marking a turning point for an organization that faced potential permanent closure only a year ago and temporarily closed due to damage to its facade in May 2025.
Scarecrow’s archive contains nearly 155,000 titles — roughly eight times more than all major streaming services combined — representing 138 countries and 126 languages. Many will never be available digitally, according to the organization…