Old Washington State highway maps

How cool. A cousin just sent me an album that my aunt put together in 1941 of a trip she and the grandparents took and she included a map. It is so cool to see it. I'd love to retrace it.

I love the Wilbur ferry crossing- well, maybe except for the road grades on the approach from the south. I have pics of us crossing there a couple of years ago...our tug/tow and road bike combo just about filled the Martha S even though the RV combo's less than thirty feet long bumper to bumper.

Truth be told, I'll sorta miss the old girl- hope they don't just scrap her!

Speaking of Washington highway history, WSDOT has a new ferry, the Sanpoil, on WA21. This crosses Lake Roosevelt north of Wilbur.

WSDOT acquired this run in 1930, and ran the Martha S from 1948 to this year.

The new boat was constructed near Portland, and trucked in 3 large pieces to a final assembly point near the GC Dam.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157632986894243/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157635285953917/

WA21 to the Keller campground and ferry drops 800' with a couple of serious 180deg curves. But plenty of RVs use the campground (and marina).

One thing that amazes me is that US10 used to go north from Cle elum to Wenatchee over Blewett Pass. Roughly what US97 does now, except it used the real Blewett Pass, what is now called Old Blewett Pass Rd. (NF9715 and NF7320). That is a paved road, but much narrower and twistier than the modern highway.

Very neat. Amazing to think of how much improved our highway system is compared to that era.

I have seen a roadmap of my native North Dakota dated I believe 1933. At that time, there was only one paved road in the entire state. It ran where old US 10 ran (now I-94) between Bismarck and Mandan, or the huge distance of about five miles.

My Grandfather served for 16 years in the legislature from Yakima and was the single most person that got Chinook Pass built. It was supposed to go over Naches Pass and be an all weather highway,but Grandpa loved Yakima Park,now Sunrise, and Chinook Pass was a closer for the family. He was also worked on the survey of the park boundary in the very early 1900's. My uncle liked to tell the story of them riding on a flat bed truck to the dedication and one of the dual wheels stuck out over the edge aeveral times.
Does anyone remember the highway to Pullman in the 50's,when it went through Othello,Washtucna,Hooper and ran along the river towards Dusty. It had 90 dgree corners at some property lines where the farmers didn't want the road cutting across their land..

Very cool find, Paul- thanks for sharing. I love maps and have a big collection ranging from topo to highway to pull down school maps. Don't have any of these, though!

Nice find.