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1. The Soda Fountain Swap

   A regular customer at a local Seattle soda fountain finds himself unexpectedly toasted by a new clerk who can't distinguish between pineapple syrup and brandy.

   Jul 21, 1876The Daily IntelligencerBroadway, Seattle, King CountyStrange But True

2. Kennewick’s Saloon Keepers Pivot to Soft Drinks

   As Washington State approaches prohibition in 1916, local bar owners prepare to trade spirits for sodas, card tables, and light lunches.

   Dec 23, 1915The Kennewick Courier-ReporterKennewick, Benton CountyNightlife

3. She Rode 2,000 Miles from Wisconsin to Seattle — Alone, in a Dress

   Emma Larson, a 31-year-old Seattle woman, crossed the continent on horseback with only her mare Kitty for company, sleeping under the stars and going days at a stretch on nothing but water.

   Nov 25, 1883Seattle Daily Post-IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyLocal Legends · Strange But True

4. The Deadly Loaf of Bread

   A betrayal between business partners takes a dark turn in Semiahmoo when a loaf of bread becomes a vessel for strychnine.

   Jun 13, 1886Seattle Daily Post-IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyTrue Crime

5. The Great Harrison Street Heist

   A pair of enterprising burglars—and their young apprentice—pulled off a sophisticated grocery store robbery in Seattle, only to leave their loot neatly stashed in a canyon tent.

   Jun 11, 1894The Seattle Post-IntelligencerQueen Anne, Seattle, King CountyTrue Crime

6. The Death of John Barleycorn: Kennewick Goes Dry

   As Washington state's prohibition laws took effect in 1916, the local paper penned a mock-obituary for the liquor trade.

   Jan 6, 1916The Kennewick Courier-ReporterKennewick, Benton CountyNightlife

7. The Tea That Fed a City: How One Woman’s Lunch Saved Seattle’s Newsboys

   In the winter of 1903, Mrs. M.E. Handsaker didn’t just throw a party; she provided a full hot lunch to hundreds of street children, revealing the harsh reality of child labor in the Pacific Northwest.

   Feb 17, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyWork & Pay · Strange But True

8. The Night They Slept in Rainier's Ice Caves

   A Seattle climbing party returns from Mount Rainier after a storm-bound night in the summit ice caves—and Tacoma greets them like a circus.

   Jul 25, 1894The Seattle Post-IntelligencerMount Rainier, Pierce CountyStrange But True

9. A Petty Feud of Doctors Paralyzes Seattle

   A minor medical dispute over a broken rib spirals into a week-long war of words in the local press, much to the exhaustion of the city.

   Sep 1, 1883Seattle Daily Post-IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyScandal

10. A Seattle Expedition Sets Out to Map Mount Rainier's Glaciers—and Find a Hidden Volcano

    Major Ingraham's party leaves Seattle for three weeks on the mountain, hoping to name glaciers, test mineral springs, and locate a smoking volcano seen from the foothills.

    Jul 13, 1894The Seattle Post-IntelligencerMount Rainier, Pierce CountyStrange But True

11. A Cold Night at City Hall

    Seattle's council confirms a fire commissioner, stalls a plumbing nominee accused of theft, and warns unemployed workers to stay away.

    Apr 2, 1895The Seattle Post-IntelligencerCity Hall, Seattle, King CountyWork & Pay · City Hall

12. The Mysterious Disappearance of a Local Hotelier

    After securing bond on a criminal charge, a local business owner vanished after borrowing money and cigars from a business partner.

    Feb 20, 1883Seattle Daily Post-IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyTrue Crime

13. The Pharmacy Trap

    A late-night misadventure outside an Eagle Pharmacy store leads to an unexpected reunion.

    Jan 30, 1909The Tacoma TimesTacoma, Pierce CountyStrange But True

14. The Patriotic Drunkard

    A Walla Walla local argues that his drinking habit is a noble contribution to the war effort.

    Sep 2, 1864Walla Walla StatesmanWalla Walla, Walla Walla CountyNightlife

15. The Unlucky Entrepreneur of Fourth of July

    A man’s ambitious plan to capitalize on the holiday crowds turns into a street-side cautionary tale when his dray and goods go missing.

    Aug 5, 1888The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyTrue Crime

16. The Pioneer Baker of Seattle

    A rare glimpse into the early daily life and food infrastructure of a growing Seattle.

    Feb 17, 1877The Daily IntelligencerMill Street, Seattle, King County

17. Sunday Refreshments at the Yesler Pleasure Garden

    A look at the popular 1870s recreational spot where Seattle residents found relief, music, and ice cream on their days off.

    Nov 10, 1877Puget Sound DispatchSeattle, King CountyNightlife

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