June 19 – June 22, 1888
The Boomtown That Expected to Replace Seattle
P-I reports Port Townsend boosters' rail-and-harbor claims, June 1888.
3 reports in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 19 – June 22, 1888.
The story
In June 1888, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer published reports describing Port Townsend, the “Key City,” as convinced that a large rail subsidy and its harbor status would make it the primary metropolis of the Pacific Northwest. The reports say boosters promoted the city as the future “Frisco” or “next San Francisco,” and one account says the city began selling off landscape in anticipation of becoming a transcontinental rail terminus.
Told from the 3 reports below. The reports are the record.
The archive grouped these reports automatically, by date, place and subject.
The reports 3
- The Seattle Post-IntelligencerThe Boomtown That Expected to Replace Seattle
In 1888, the 'Key City' of Port Townsend was convinced its massive rail subsidy and harbor status would make it the primary metropolis of the Pacific Northwest.
- The Seattle Post-IntelligencerThe Boomtown Delusion of Port Townsend
In the late 1880s, Port Townsend boosters scrambled to convince the world that their city was destined to be the 'Frisco' of the Pacific Northwest.
- The Seattle Post-IntelligencerThe Boomtown That Expected to Be 'The Next San Francisco'
In 1888, the 'Key City' of Port Townsend was so convinced of its impending status as a transcontinental rail terminus that it began feverishly selling off the entire landscape.
From the pages
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer · Jun 19, 1888
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer · Jun 20, 1888
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer · Jun 22, 1888
Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Public domain.