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.”
This bridge is one of many PWA and WPA projects in Washington state: “The Purdy Bridge crosses Henderson Bay near Tacoma. Like the McMillin Bridge, it was an example of Hollow Box construction. The main span of the bridge is… read more
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) worked to improve Seattle’s former Railroad Avenue ca. 1933-4. Railroad Avenue was later replaced by the Alaskan Way.
The CCC did extensive work in the park, including building a hand-hewn log and stone footbridge, a comfort station, a picnic pavilion, trails, bridges, and several log structures.
"Rainier School is a habilitation center for individuals with developmental disabilities located within the city limits of Buckley, Washington about a mile-and-a-half from downtown. The campus is situated in a peaceful country setting with a unique and prominent view of… read more
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported: “Bayview, Skargit County, will have a new recreation building and the grounds improved with a WPA grant of $6,935.” The exact location and status of the project is unknown to Living New… read more
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported that Hoquiam, Washington received a WPA grant to improve recreational facilities. The exact details of the project are unknown to Living New Deal.
The Renton History Museum is housed in a former fire station built by the WPA between 1941 and 1942.
This 1938 Section of Fine Arts mural”Miners at Work” by Jacob Elshin was originally installed in the Renton post office. Elshin “actually visited underground mines and sketched miners at work for his mural in Renton, Washington, that depicted this historic… read more
Washington State University’s old Rogers Field, in Pullman, Washington was reconstructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds in 1936. The stadium was “severely damaged by a fire in April 1970. Demolished in early 1971, Rogers Field… read more
The Western Construction News reports of REA work in rural Washington state. “The REA has alloted $45,000 to the Benton Rural Electrification Association, Benton City Washington, for construction of 43 miles of transmission lines in Benton County Washington.” “The Benton… read more
The Western Construction News reported of REA work in Washington State. “The REA has alloted $88,000 to the Cowlitz County Public Utility District No. 1, Kalama Wash., to finance construction of 81 miles of electric transmission lines.” ” Cowlitz County… read more
“With support from the local communities and the state, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a museum at the park in 1938. The Sacajawea Museum was built to display Native American artifacts from the tribes of the Columbia Plateau. The… read more
The Works Progress Administration Saltars Point Park comfort stations in Steilacoom WA in 1939.
WA.gov: “Saltwater State Park is a camping park featuring 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound, halfway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The two cities jointly and literally buried a hatchet at the park during the 1926… read more
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that “45 unemployed will be put to work on a flood control project in the Salzer Creek Valley, Lewis County, under a $10,965 [WPA] allotment.” The aim of the project was to… read more
“The city of Yakima has added $4,076 to the WPA grant of $16,986 for the construction of sanitary sewers and manholes.”
The federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds provided funding for the construction of the Art Deco-accented bridge carrying SW Admiral Way above Schmitz Park. Construction occurred between 1936 and 1937. The PWA provided a grant of $68,200; the total cost… read more
“Rehabilitation of the athletic field and school grounds at Washougal is also expected to begin on December 4 [1937]. The work will consist of grading the field, building a tennis court, cinder track, bleachers and sidewalks. The cost will be… read more
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported: “The preparation of hot school lunches for undernourished school children in Walla Walla county will be continued … with an allotment of $2,640.”
“This major attraction at Camp Long was designed by Clark Schurman. His dream was to build a human-made mountain incorporating every potential rock climbing problem into its design. After taking a winter to make a clay model of the rock,… read more
As one of many WPA and PWA projects in Washington state: “$307,750 was allocated to build parks in rapidly developing areas in Seattle. The parks were constructed between August of 1938 and December of 1939.”
The Civil Works Administration (WPA) constructed a log cabin at Seward Park in 1934.
“Federal approval of Tacoma’s city-wide WPA sewer improvement project providing employment for more than 560 men, was announced today [Nov. 12, 1937] by Don G. Abel, state WPA director. The WPA allotment accounts to $95,776 to which the city of… read more
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that “East Wenatchee will receive $19,390” in WPA funds “for a sanitary sewer system …”
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that “White Salmon, Klickitat County, was granted $7,683 for the reconstruction of their water supply system.”
“Vashon Island receive[d] $8087.24 [in WPA aid] to construct sidewalks along various public thoroughfares.”
This 1938 Section of Fine Arts oil-on-canvas mural “Local Pursuits” by Ambrose Patterson was painted for the then Mount Vernon post office. The building (and mural) are now part of Skagit Valley College’s Business Resource Center. “Born in Australia, Patterson… read more
“In 1937 WPA funds were granted to Snohomish County Airport. $225,000 was granted by the War Department who oversaw all airport construction and renovation between 1933 and 1938.”
“In Snohomish County, farm land conditions will be improved by a drainage system affecting seven sections of land between the cities of Snohomish and Monroe. Cooperating with the State of Washington, sponsoring the project, WPA will invest $14,989, according to… read more
One of a number of PWA and WPA projects in Washington state: “Work began in December of 1938 and at a cost of $2,011,788 included clearing, straightening, widening, draining, excavating, cutting and installing drainage ditches.”
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 reported that “the Retsil Soldier’s Home receive[d] $6,040″ in WPA funds for grounds and landscaping improvement work.” Multiple similar projects were undertaken at the site. The facility is now known as the Washington… read more
In 1939 and 1940, WPA workers made several improvements to the South Seattle Playground, beginning with the demolition of the four-story former South Seattle School building, which had closed in 1932 but remained on the site. Much of the brick… read more
Previously known as Sunset Field, the property was renamed Geiger Field in 1941 and eventually became the Spokane International Airport. After the city leased the area to the military in 1939, the WPA and the army jointly cleared and leveled… read more
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) worked to improve Seattle’s former Spokane Street Bridge ca. 1933-4. The bridge has since been replaced.
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.
