Description of the Route

This segment of the route has had some drastic realignments in the years leading up to the completion of the floating bridge across Lake Washington in 1940. From the early years up to the 1930's you would have taken The Pacific Hwy and headed South to Renton Junction. From here you drove east toward Renton following the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Interurban Trolley lines.

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Renton Junction

In 1915 When the Sunset Highway was opened, you departed Seattle and headed south on the Pacific Highway. When you reached Tukwila you would have taken Macadam Road to Renton Junction. The original bridge cross the Green River is almost in the same spot as the new bridge on Southcenter Blvd.

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Issaquah Creek Bridge

The original route of the highway between Issaquah and Preston followed the contour of the mountainside as it climbed the hill to Highpoint. This concrete bridge was constructed in 1912 and is one of oldest surviving concrete bridges on the old highway.

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Highpoint

County Road No. 186 known as the O. P. Stephenson Road was the first wagon road between Preston and Issaquah built in 1886. In 1905, John Lovegren started a sawmill two miles east of Issaquah at the top of the steep railroad grade. It wasn't long before people started to build homes near the mill and the small community became known as Highpoint. In 1922 the Highpoint Mill Company took over Lovegren's operations and continued to do business there until 1930.

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Preston Mill Tramway

The Preston Mill Company operated from 1896 to 1990, with mills both at this site as well as Upper Preston, just upstream on the Raging River. The sawmill used a tramway to transport lumber to the railroad. Originally there was a wooden bridge over the tram, then in 1923 they built a concrete bridge. Today the Preston Mill is a county park.

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Preston

In 1890, August Lovegren along with his family moved from Seattle and began a lumber mill near the Northern Pacific mainline where it meets the Raging River. The sawmill became very successful and town began to prosper in the 1900's. At it's peak, there was a hotel, railroad depot, community hall and a general store, plus many other homes and buildings. The mill operated until 1990 when it caught fire. Today the mill is now a county park.

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Between Preston and Fall City

The first road between Preston and Fall city was completed in 1889. In 1914 the old wagon road was realigned for the Sunset Highway. This new one lane dirt road wound down the hill to Fall City. In 1925 the road was realigned again and paved with concrete. You can still see parts of the old 1915 road as you drive along this section.

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The Raging River Bridge

This reinforced concrete bridge was built in 1914 and crosses the Raging River between Preston and Fall City. This bridge is still used and is a good place to view the old 1925 original concrete highway.

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Fall City

Fall City was established as a trading post in 1869 and became a hub of the local economy. It was known at the time as "The Landing", as shallow water and rapids upstream on the Snoqualmie river made it impassable to the large dugout canoes used for transporting goods. The first small steamboats started ferrying people and supplies up the river from Puget Sound in 1875. This route became known as the Snoqualmie River Highway.