Seattle had horse-drawn streetcars on unpaved streets as early as 1884, but only five years later, Seattle was the first West Coast city to convert to electric streetcars. Streetcar service was booming then, but already started declining in the 1920s. In 1939, interurban train service between Seattle and Everett was suspended. Seattle residents wanted to retain streetcar service, but the financing was allegedly blocked by automakers. And in 1941, the last Seattle streetcar completed its final run.
Like many other cities, Seattle looked at reintroducing streetcar service. As early as 1974, City Councilman George Benson proposed a streetcar line. It was discussed for a long time, and service was re-introduced in 1982, with additional expansions since then. To find out more about the current system, visit
Seattle Streetcar.
Here's the back of the card:
Here's another view of Pioneer Place in Seattle:
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If ever there was a time for this country to invest in bringing back street cars, it's NOW. What I wouldn't give to be able to commute via a street car line, sted of driving. These cards are beautiful, by the way. Thanks for the history behind the decline of the streetcars, a pattern I'm sure was repeated around the country and led to the great investment in highways, not mass transit. Sigh.
ReplyDeletei love all the little details on the first card, especially the ones that look a little crooked.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a totem on the second car. I really liked seeing old downtown Seattle.
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