Mount Rainier was the nation’s fifth National Park, established 1899. During the Great Depression the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps greatly aided the park’s development. Wikipedia: “The Paradise Ski-Tow Powerhouse was built to house a portable ski-tow system. Paradise was… read more
One story published in 2011 states: “… the WPA also built a school in Kirkland and the old baseball field and bleachers at Peter Kirk Park, both now gone.”
This totem pole stands in the middle of historic Pioneer Square, known as the “first neighborhood of Seattle”. The Pioneer Square Totem Pole stands tall but unobtrusive in the middle of this square. It is actually a replica of a… read more
A WPA press release from Nov. 1937 reported: “More than 150 schools have been repaired and the grounds improved and landscaped [in Washington State], and five brand new schools in the state were erected entirely by WPA with a small… read more
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937: “The Port of Olympia is making a definite bid for world trade with the new harbor facilities made possible by W.P.A. grants new totaling more than $87,296, Don G. Abel, state W.P.A. director… read more
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 reported that “Foot-paths are included in ground improvements for the Port Orchard Park with $1,207.” It is likely that this park is now the facility known as Veterans Memorial Park.
The historic post office in Anacortes was completed in 1938 with funds provided by the Treasury Department. It is also the site of Kenneth Callahan’s mural, entitled “Halibut Fishing,” completed in 1940 with funds provided by the Treasury Section of… read more
The post office in Centralia was constructed by the Treasury Department in 1937.
The historic post office in Lynden, Washington was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which was constructed ca. 1940, houses New Deal artwork and is still in use today.
The historic post office in Montesano, Washington was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which was constructed ca. 1935, is still in use today.
The historic post office in Omak, Washington was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which was constructed ca. 1935, is still in use today.
The historic post office in Puyallup, Washington was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which was constructed in 1935-6, is still in use today.
The historic post office in Raymond, Washington was constructed in 1939-40 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which houses an example of New Deal artwork, is still in service.
The post office in Shelton was completed in 1938 with funds provided by the Treasury Department. It is also the site of Richard Haines’s 1940 mural, “Skid Row,” completed with funds provided by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts and… read more
The historic post office in Sunnyside, Washington was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which was constructed ca. 1937, is still in use today.
The old post office (now Wenatchee Valley Museum) contains a 1940 Section of Fine Arts mural by Peggy Strong, The Saga of Wenatchee. “Peggy Strong, an artist from Tacoma, won a statewide competition to paint the mural. Strong had been… read more
Zygmund Sazevich completed the three carved wood panels, collectively titled “From Far Away” for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts in 1941. They hang by the counter in the customer service lobby of Kent, Washington’s downtown post office.
Under the Treasury Section of Fine Art, “Seattle artist and museum curator Kenneth Callahan completed ‘Halibut Fishing’ in 1940. The mural provoked some outcry from the local community, who didn’t entirely agree with Callahan’s depictions of fishing. “Callahan, one of… read more
The post office contains a 4′ x 24′ 1938 Section of Fine Arts oil-on-canvas mural by Ernest Norling entitled “Northwest Logging.” The mural was restored in 1994-95. “Norling completed two Washington State Post Office murals during the New Deal period,… read more
The post office contains a Section of Fine Arts mural by Douglas Nicholson, Beginning of a New World, 1941, Egg Tempera on Wall. “A California artist, Nicholson traveled to Washington to complete the mural in person. Approximately 5′ x 13′… read more
The post office contains a 1938 Section of Fine Arts mural by Kenneth Callahan entitled “Industries of Lewis County.” “Callahan, one of the founders of the Northwest School (a Pacific Northwest art movements) served as a curator at the Seattle… read more
The post office contains a 1939 Section of Fine Arts mural by Edmond J. Fitzgerald entitled Hudson’s Bay – The Pathfinders. “Born in Seattle, Fitzgerald studied at the California School of Fine Arts and with Mark Tobey. According to the… read more
The post office contains a Section of Fine Arts mural entitled “Incidents in the Lives of Lewis and Clark” painted in 1938 by David McCosh. “This mural, by Oregon artist David McCosh, captures a wide variety of scenes in the… read more
The historic Lynden post office contains a 1942 Section of Fine Arts mural by Mordi Gassner entitled Three Ages of Phoebe Goodell Judson. “In 1870, Judson co-founded the town of Lynden with her husband, Holden Allen Judson. She lived in… read more
Prosser’s historic post office contains a 1937 Section of Fine Arts mural by Ernest Norling entitled “Mail Train in the ’80s”. “According to the 1991 National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Prosser Post Office, ‘The lobby of… read more
The post office contains a 1941 Section of Fine Arts mural by Albert C. Runquist entitled Loggers and Millworkers. “Known as the “Gateway to the North Cascades,” Sedro-Wooley is located along the Skagit River in Skagit County. The mural depicts… read more
This tempera mural “Skid Row” by Richard Haines was a winner of the Treasury Section’s 48-State Post Office Mural Competition. “When Section officials in Washington, D.C., chose Minneapolis artist Richard Haines to paint a mural for the new post office… read more
The post office contains a 1940 Section of Fine Arts mural by Andrew McD. Vincent, Local Theme. “Located southeast of the city of Yakima, Toppenish is located entirely in the Yakama Indian Nation. According to the 1991 National Register nomination… read more
The post office contains a 1940 Section of Fine Arts carved wooden relief by Donlon P. McGovern entitled Lewis and Clark.
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported: “The Priest Rapids Irrigation District system of Benton and Yakima Counties is scheduled to receive major improvements with WPA funds totaling $31,428. Plans call for deepening the intake canal, raising a wing… read more
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 stated: “Construction of bridle paths, rustic bridges and general landscaping in Puget Park, Tacoma, is scheduled under a WPA allotment of $7,416. The project started operating this week.”
Check out our latest map and guide to the work of the New Deal in Washington, D.C. It includes 500 New Deal sites in the District alone, highlighting 34 notable sites, and includes an inset map of the area around the National Mall which can be used for self-guided walking tours.
Take a look at our previous guides, equally comprehensive, covering key New Deal sites in San Francisco and New York City.
