My aimless travels as a contract worker in the Aerospace industry brought me back to work for Boeing Aircraft in Everett, WA in the winter of 2000-2001.  Although working far too many hours to explore thoroughly, I did have the occasional day off to try to capture some of the flavor of this area.  All of these photos are from the Fall/Winter of 2001 and all photos/cards are my own unless otherwise stated.  Please do not hesitate to drop me a line if you have a unique shot/postcard of your own.  I'm particularly fond of 'now & then' shots (hint-hint)!  

    Since the old U.S. highways counted mileage from east-west and north-south, from the Canadian border heading south...

An icon lost: Per our roadie friend Jeff Fox, the old Highway 99 bridge in Mt. Vernon has been demolished with some of the ironworks being incorporated into a new farmer's market building in Bellingham.  Can anyone help me determine if the old Highway 99 designations built into he concrete of the old bridge were saved and perhaps incorporated into the new structure??? 

    Northern Washington State, Bellingham area:  The precursor to Old 99, the Pacific Highway, came through Bellingham in the teens and followed beautiful Chuckanut Drive south out of town and along the edge of Clayton Bay.  This is still a great drive and is sure to remind one of an earlier time.  The later 99 alignment ('30's) that we are familiar with today headed southeastward out of town along Samish Drive and south.  When this occurred, the older Pacific Highway alignment became 'Alternate' 99. 

    For a little clarity and better understanding of this area, I've scanned in a high-res 1950's-era map detail of the Bellingham/Chuckanut Dr. area (click on the thumbnail, note-long download).  Note 'Alt' 99 heading south along Puget Sound and also north into Canada.  These routes are known as Washington Hwy's #11 and #539 respectively today and retain much of the flavor of these earlier times.  Proof?  See my photos next paragraph!.  Also worthy of note, I believe the original Pacific Highway followed what was in the '50's known as Washington Hwy #1E from Conway south to where you see a blue road veer off to the SW.  This ran to W. Stanwood then back east towards Smokey Point & Marysville.  Very shortly after its commissioning, original 99 bypassed W. Stanwood and went straight from Conway to E. Stanwood (the Hwy 1E as seen on the map).  This bypass eliminated at least two railroad crossings and the W. Stanwood area (thanks to 'drivewdave' for that info...). If anyone knows the exact dates, I'd appreciate the info.  This route is known today as WA 530-the Pioneer Highway (thanks to Kurt Batdorf for that info).

    Ahhh, enjoy these photos of Chuckanut Drive.  You can almost smell the pines and ocean!  However, a little advice:  this is an extremely narrow and curvy road.  I would not advise RV's (they may be barred...I'm not sure).  This area still has quite a few remaining built-in curbs, old railings and retaining walls, so imagine yourself in that Model T, or perhaps that '32 Roadster and enjoy the drive.  There were several wonderful photo opportunities, but no where to pull off and get out!  Cliff on one side...drop off to the surf on the other.  The curving bridge over Oyster Creek is dated 1924.  (Darn it, per 'drivewdave', this area still had original concrete until asphalted sometime in the '80's.)

    More proof that things haven't changed much along this route?  Compare this undated Pacific Highway postcard with my photo above.  Although the card does not state it, the stretch along Chuckanut Drive is the only place in Washington that you would find this scene along Puget Sound.

    Washington, the Seattle Metro area (including Mt. Vernon, Marysville, Everett, Seattle & burbs).  I have quite a few photos from this area, so check back often!

  For grins, check out this old matchbook cover!  The Mayflower Building is still there.

    Until '32, 99 followed the older, more circuitous Pacific Highway route along the east edge of Lake Union, across the top of Lake Washington and then up to Bothell via what are known today as Washington Highways 522 & 527 respectively.  I've lived in Bothell twice, and unfortunately, these areas are now high density residential and commercial areas with didley to remind one of these earlier times.  I wouldn't bother exploring these routes-for the 'must see every inch' enthusiast only.

   South of the hustle and bustle of Seattle, check out this little gem just inside the southern city limits of Milton.  The Daffodil Motel has one of the most unique and pretty signs I've seen anywhere.  The current owners seemed pleasant enough, but alas, once again, they have only had the place for a few years and could not tell me any history of the place.  As I took a couple pictures, I saw at least 2 cars with out of state plates pull in, so hopefully, the Daffodil has a good name with roadies and is still pulling them in...

        South of the Puget Sound metro areas, the old Pacific Highway and original 99 turned inland for a bit.  Through the (today) sleepy towns of Tenino and Toledo the old roads went, but evidence of their passing remain.  For example, in Toledo, there used to be a 1920 vintage truss bridge over the Cowlitz River until the early 90's. Unfortunately, the bridge was replaced, but the town was wise enough to save a WW1 memorial plaque that adorned the classic structure and place it on the west end of the modern (i.e. boring & functional) replacement.
Author's addendum 07-09-05: According to Tynaea Pham who grew up in the area, this is actually (and as I had suspected) the 3rd bridge in the area.  The second bridge, of 1920's vintage, was so narrow that logging trucks had to pass one at a time.  It finally had to be replaced due to numerous instability issues.  The rusting pilings and bridge supports for the first Pacific Highway routing can be seen just a couple of hundred feet to the north still sticking out of the water.  Tynaea's Grandfather has memories of playing hooky and hiding under that 1st old bridge when he was young!

   As you continue further south, you approach Longview, Kelso and ultimately Vancouver, Washington.  Unfortunately, due to the terrain, I-5 now overlays old 99 in much of this area, but there are strips of the old road that cris-cross the interstate that provide a glimpse into what once was.  Be sure to get off the interstate and take a look at Vancouver.  Main street through here is old 99 and is conveniently identified as such.  Within a short stretch, there are ample reminders of the pre-chain days.  For example, I've certainly not seen this great neon sign for the Value Motel anywhere else.  And just across the street, one can shop at the retro Totem Shopping Center.  I can only imagine what the major thoroughfares must have used to look like at night with neon blazing.

        From here, we cross the mighty Columbia.  The still used 1917 Interstate bridge now carries I-5 northbound traffic while a newer bridge, built in '58, carries southbound traffic across to Portland.  Interestingly, the 1958 bridge was built in the same style as the older bridge.  Once across this, the 99 traveler entered Oregon.