Snoqualmie Falls and Observation Point Postcard By Clifford B. Ellis – C-36

The former covered observation deck at Snoqualmie Falls in Snoqualmie, Washington only exists in postcards from the past. Constructed in the late 1960s by Puget Sound Power, the viewing area of the majestic 268-foot waterfall makes a small cameo in David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks. I acquired a postcard containing a photo by Clifford B. Ellis, the son of J. Boyd Ellis, who ran Ellis Post Card Co. until being purchased by rival Smith-Weston Co. in 1990. While the covered deck is long gone, I’ve always wondered when exactly it was constructed.

SNOQUALMIE FALLS AND OBSERVATION POINT POSTCARD BY CLIFFORD B. ELLIS – C-36

The front of this postcard show Snoqualmie Falls during a heavier flow from the Snoqualmie River as seen on the path toward the lower observation area. A metal fence, which may have been added in the late 1940s, is the only thing separating the path and a steep drop into the river.

In the distance, Snoqualmie Falls Lodge and a covered observation point sit perched above the sacred space of the Snoqualmie Tribe.

The back of this postcard contains details which may help me identify a timeframe. It contains two production numbers – C-36 and 108960 – from the Ellis Post Card Co. based in Arlington, Washington.

The inscription reads:

SNOQUALMIE FALLS, WASHINGTON. This view also shows the observation point and Snoqualmie Falls Lodge.

Ellis used Ektachrome film, the follow up to Kodak’s Kodachrome film. First introduced in 1946, Ektachrome film could be developed in as little as 19 minutes on the photographer’s own premises, whereas the former Kodachrome usually had to be sent out for processing, and took a minimum of 24 hours. The film stock was known for bright, vibrant colors which was particularly useful for this shot of Snoqualmie Falls.

The “K” in a diamond logo in the bottom left corner was the mark of Koppell Kolor (Color) Cards based in Hawthorne, New Jersey.

According to a former employee’s comment on a Hawthorne Historical Society Facebook post, the company “mainly printed 4-color process picture postcards, accordion folders & mini-albums for various tourist hot spots … [they] also printed reproduction 3-D cards for use in stereopticons. Everything was printed on Miehle one color printing presses – so every sheet of paper ended up passing through the press 4 times – yellow, cyan, magenta and finally the black.”

WHEN WAS THE COVERED OBSERVATION POINT AT SNOQUALMIE FALLS CONSTRUCTED?

You can see a corner of the covered area in establishing shots of The Great Northern Hotel (known as Salish Lodge & Spa in reality), best seen in Twin Peaks episodes 2.002, 2.004 and 2.016.

During my research into the the covered observation point’s construction date, I was surprised at finding almost no information about it. Millions of people have visited the falls yearly for decades. It’s a popular spot in Washington state. I assumed I’d find articles about the grand opening but I was met with silence.

That is until August 22, 2025, when I discovered Newspapers.com had issues of the “Snoqualmie North Bend Valley Record” from 1966-1971. These papers must have been added recently as I don’t recall finding any records prior to that Friday night. These papers would prove incredibly helpful in determining key details about the construction.

The Tri City Herald on Sept. 11, 1967 showed then U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson from Washington state visiting Snoqualmie Falls during a 10-day tour with his family. Behind the Jacksons, you can see the wooden structure overlooking the falls. This was the first newspaper clipping I could locate which means it must have been constructed at some point in 1967.

Flash forward to Feb. 9, 1968, a newspaper article in Peninsula Daily News detailed Puget Sound Power’s expansion in the region. The company added a record number of customers in 1967 and energy consumption was at an all-time high. The article details financial results along with several projects to help meet demand. A footnote at the end offered a great clue behind the architects of the observation point.

The company was investing in “several programs to develop parks, picnic areas, boat launching ramps and other similar facilities.” In addition, one project concerned “face lifting” of their property at Snoqualmie Falls generating plant. The article stated a “cantilevered observation platform has been constructed over a cliff with a breathtaking view of the falls.”

So it looks like 1967 was the year it was made. One day, I hope to find a specific date.

In the June 13, 1968 issue of the “Snoqualmie North Bend Valley Record,” I found a small advertisement for the dedication of Puget Power’s new Snoqualmie Falls Park. It would be held on June 18 at 11:00 a.m. with a picnic lunch to follow in the Park.

On Tuesday, June 18, 200 people attended the dedication of the new park including Washington state Governor Dan Evans; Ralph Davis, president of Puget Power; and King County Commissioner John Spellman. The noon ceremony marked the completion of the $150,000 renovation project which began in spring 1967.

“The major feature of the renovation is an observation platform built on steel beams cant-levered from a concrete slab anchored in rock at the top of a cliff and affording a fine view of the 268-foot falls. The roofed platform was completed in the fall and has already proven to be a popular addition to the park for off-season tourists and visitors,” the article stated.

This explains why Senator Jackson was photographed with the new observation deck in September 1967.

The deck would remain a staple at the high-traffic viewing area for decades. This photo by Jim Leo from The Daily Herald on July 1, 1995 shows guests admiring the falls.

Then on Sept. 3, 2009, The Seattle Times  announced major changes were coming to Snoqualmie Falls Park. The park closed on September 8 and reopened eight weeks later in December with a whole new look. The covered observation point was removed and landscaping was updated throughout the park.

Puget Sound Power hired Seattle-based Design + Planning practice at Aecom provided landscape architectural services. Jeff Bouma described the work in an article on Mar. 25, 2010 in the Daily Journal of Commerce.

“Aecom’s vision for the Upper Park was to create a place that celebrates the magnificent views and improves the experience of exploring the site. The improvements were designed to protect and enhance the natural landscape while respecting the cultural significance of the site.

The dramatic landscape inspired a simple, yet robust aesthetic for the park and materials used. This is consistent with a ‘national park-like setting’ that is rustic yet refined, while robust enough to withstand millions of visitors over the next several decades.

Use of the park continues to be focused on viewing the falls. Trails and pathways connect users to significant viewing areas and interpretive nodes within the park. The park itself will become the nexus of several regional and community trails.”

At the 2012 Washington Association of Landscape Professional’s Environmental Landscape Awards, Ohno Construction Company took home the grand prize award ceremony for their work at Snoqualmie Falls. Both Ohno and Puget Sound Energy made sure to project the native lands of the Snoqualmie Tribe during construction:

“Puget Sound Energy (PSE) provided an on-site archeologist who identified the artifacts as they were unearthed during the excavation process and during planting. Items that were found had to be returned to the indigenous owners. Extra care had to be taken so as not to damage any buried artifacts or burial sites that might have been uncovered,’ Ohno explained. ‘And, it was PSE’s policy that all demo materials had to go to approved recycling locations – no landfill.’

Puget Sound Energy held a grand-reopening celebration on September 14, 2013 for the Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project and Park. It’s a spot not to miss during a visit to Snoqualmie Valley.

Download a high-resolution image this postcard and many others from my Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aloha75/albums/72177720314797263/