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Tag: Snoqualmie Pass

From the Digital Archives: 1909 Washington highway map

From the Digital Archives: 1909 Washington highway map

Nowadays, when we look at a highway map of Washington, we see a complex web of gold, red and black lines crisscrossing the state. But it wasn’t always this way. In the early 1900s, highways were a rarity in the Evergreen State. Probably because cars and trucks were rarities as well, considering that the automobile had just been invented. This 1909 map displays Washington’s located and proposed highways, railroads (the dominant form of transportation then) and county seats. The map…

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75th anniversary for two famous Washington bridges

75th anniversary for two famous Washington bridges

  Construction of the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which opened in July 1940. (Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives) This is Washington’s tale of two bridges. Opening just one day apart in July 1940, 75 years ago, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Lake Washington Floating Bridge both galvanized human movement and economic prosperity in Washington state. They foreshadowed the developing prowess of Washington. However, this growth was not without its pains. Both bridges were engineering marvels. The Tacoma Narrows…

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Farewell, Snoqualmie Pass snowshed

Farewell, Snoqualmie Pass snowshed

(Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives) Motorists using Interstate 90 to cross the Cascades this spring and summer will notice that a unique, classic feature of the freeway east of Snoqualmie Pass is no longer around. After 64 years, the I-90 snowshed next to Keechelus Lake has been removed by a road crew this week. Construction starts this summer on two avalanche bridges that will replace the outdated snowshed. The bridges are part of the $551 million project to widen…

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From Digital Archives: Vintage pass views & autos

From Digital Archives: Vintage pass views & autos

(Photos courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives.) Anyone who drives across the Washington Cascades gets to enjoy million-dollar views and recreational opportunities of mountain pass highways that are the envy of the nation. The passes also play a crucial role in Washington’s transportation system, connecting the western and eastern sectors of the state and providing speedy farm-to-market roadways. Our Digital Archives has cool classic photos that will get you in the mood for a roadtrip down memory lane! The top…

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I thought YOU were bringing chains!

I thought YOU were bringing chains!

Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives Believe it or not, this photo is not of last week’s monumental snow and ice storm. While the last thing anyone might want to see right now is snow and ice on roads, it’s interesting to ponder how a winter storm of this magnitude would have been handled in the 1920s. Without the help of AAA, frequent weather and traffic updates, or even freeways, Washingtonians had to dig deep to survive these storms! This…

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