Lake Washington Floating Bridge, Seattle, WA, circa 1940

About this postcard

The view looks across Lake Washington toward the east shore, where the floating bridge's approach viaduct, arched toll-gate span, and white pylons carry the roadway out over the water. Several 1930s-40s automobiles are parked on the gravel apron in the foreground beside a small red-roofed building. The caption bills the crossing as the "Short Route to Snoqualmie Pass," the mountain route east of Seattle. Opened in 1940 as the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, it was the first large floating pontoon bridge in the world, carrying traffic between Seattle and Mercer Island on what later became Interstate 90.