The Sunset Highway

Today is not only Canada Day, but it also marks the opening of the Sunset Highway, over Snoqualmie Pass in 1915. The Sunset Highway is the precursor to U.S. 10 and I-90 and took a more leisurely route to Spokane than the more modern roads. From Seattle the road went south to Renton, and then east to Issaquah, from there to Fall City (via Preston). At Fall City the Sunset met up with the northern road around Lake Washington, modern day SR 202. From Fall City it continued east to Snoqualmie and North Bend and then over Snoqualmie Pass to Cle Elum and from there over Blewett Pass to Wenatchee and the only bridge across the Columbia at the time. From East Wenatchee, the Sunset followed U.S. 2, more or less, to Spokane. On old maps it is referred to PH2, PH means Primary Highway.
Its a grand old road and one that should be marked, much like California does with it's forgotten highways, with a brown shield, with the words historic highway and then the number. One day I will drive the ol' Sunset Highway from downtown Seattle to downtown Spokane, but for now here are a few photos from along the Sunset Highway.
The first photo is the bridge over the Raging River near Preston. The second photo is just east of downtown North Bend. Photo number three is near Weeks Falls on the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, off exit 38 on I-90. Fourth picture is the bridge at Denny Creek, not pictured is a yellow arrow that points east, this is there because the Sunset Highway also was a part of the Yellowstone Trail. The Yellowstone Trail was a series of roads that took a tourist close to but not quite to Yellowstone Park. The fifth photo is from the top of the Pass, circa the 1950's. The last photo is downtown Easton. Easton what a town, but that is a thought for another day.

Enjoy