Snoqualmie Falls is one of the most beautiful sites in Washington. Located on the Snoqualmie River between Snoqualmie and Falls City, this massive waterfall spills 268 feet over granite rocks. That is more than one hundred feet higher than Niagara Falls.
These photographs of the falls were taken on Saturday, November 26, 2011 between 5:30 and 6 p.m.
The Snoqualmie tribe has lived in western Washington for centuries. The falls were one of their traditional burial sites. The Snoqualmie believed that the First Woman and First Man were created at the falls by Moon the Transformer. They also believed that the mists rising from the base of the falls carried prayers to the Creator. The mists connected Heaven and Earth.
In 1992, Snoqualmie Falls was first nominated for the National Register of Historic Places because of its link to the spiritual beliefs of the Snoqualmie tribe. At that time, the property owners (Puget Sound Energy) objected to the listing. However, the owners eventually rescinded their objection. On September 2, 2009, the falls were listed in the National Register.
Snoqualmie Falls is the site of two hydroelectric power plants owned by Puget Sound Energy. The first power plant was built in 1898 and was the world's first completely underground power plant. It operates at the base of the falls. The second power plant was built in 1910 and is located slightly downstream of the falls. Approximately one per cent of Puget Sound Energy's electricity is generated by these power plants. That is enough energy to service about 16,000 homes.
There is a two mile park with an observation deck, a gift shop and an expresso stand at the falls. The hiking trail is closed until 2013, but hopefully we will be able to take you there after the trail reopens.
Note: Some of the historical information is from Wikipedia and/or from signs at the park's observation deck.
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