The Washington State Ferries

On this date sixty years ago, Captain Peabody's Black Ball Line ceased operations and turned over its fleet and personal to Washington State.  Thus giving birth to the Washington State Ferry System.  The Black Ball Line was purchased by the state for $5 million.  Since the Black Ball Line had made riders accustomed to shutdowns, poor service and rate hikes, riders noticed little when the state took over.  A popular swell of support had washed over the Puget Sound area, in the late 1950's and into 1960 to have the state take over operations.  The people demanded accountability and it was generally assumed that the ferries were going the way of the dinosaur any how.  Jetson like floating cars would make ferries obsolete, or people believed that tunnels beneath and bridges above the Puget Sound would connect all the islands and peninsulas or the rapture was to occur on June 21, 1961.  You pick the most plausible. No matter how expensive they have become, or how poor the service, the Washington State Ferries are uniquely Washington and in the end how many killer whales are you going to see from your floating car or an under sea tunnel.