Skid Road: An Informal Portrait of Seattle.  By Murray Morgan. New York : Viking Press, c1951.  280 p. Reprinted in 1960, 1971, and 1982.

Recommendation by:
Lori Thornton, Head of Public Services, Washington State Library, Tumwater, WA.

“Skid road” is a phrase that conjures up many images and every Washingtonian should know the story behind that phrase because it had its genesis right here in western Washington.  Skid Road, the book by Murray Morgan is a true page turner that takes you through the history of Seattle via the lives of some of the more colorful residents of the city.  It is an exceptional book and very good read.  So go find a copy in a library or online and the next time you hear the phrase “skid road” you’ll not only have all the modern imagery in mind but the historical picture as well.

Available at the Washington State Library, NW 979.7771 MORGAN 1951.
See all available state library copies.
Available in cassette talking book and Braille editions.
Not available in an eReader edition.

This book also has the distinction of inclusion in The Washington 89, a list of essential Washington and Pacific Northwest history compiled by noted historian and bibliographer George H. Tweney.