A Journey to the Falls: 1880s Summer Excursion
A spirited account of a travel party’s trek from Snohomish to Snoqualmie Falls by boat, including dances, camping mishaps, and encounters with local settlers.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Coming ashore at Snohomish in a drizzling rain, we conclude to postpone our 'out of doors camping' for more propitious weather. The Governor takes us to the Riverside Inn, where we are kindly received. We were waited upon by several gentlemen from Snohomish and invited to participate in a dance. After anxious discussion by the young ladies over the propriety of appearing in the ball room in hunting costume, we sally forth. Arriving at the hall, we are surprised to find a small number but conclude the dance must be hastily gotten up for our especial benefit. On August 13th, we set out toward Snoqualmie Falls. We meet with the Editor of the Snohomish Star, who invites us to visit the printing office and the Athenaeum. We were agreeably surprised to see so large a collection of curiosities. We eventually reach the Falls, standing in silent admiration, feeling amply repaid for all time and money spent in getting here. On the return trip, we pass several logging camps and are received with hospitality by the settlers.
“The true student of nature can here find food for the soul. Beneath our feet runs the pure, limpid waters of the Snoqualmie.”
This travelogue captures the era of Snohomish as a central hub for river-based tourism and industry. While the 'Athenaeum' and the romanticized river travel are long gone, the town’s modern struggle between maintaining its historic identity and managing the rapid growth of the region continues to echo these booster-style chronicles.
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