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Fascinating Historical Photos of Bellingham from the 1900s

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Bellingham was incorporated in 1903 by combining Bellingham, Whatcom, Fairhaven, and Sehome into one city. Whatcom Falls was settled in 1852 when Captain Henry Roeder built a sawmill there. Coal mining began in 1854, and the bay served as a staging area for the ill-fated Fraser River gold rush (1857–58). The “Old Town” area of Whatcom was founded in 1852 with Roeder’s Mill. A coal mine founded in 1854 led to the creation of Sehome, a place of downtown. Dan Harris founded Fairhaven in 1883, and it was a large commercial district and harbor located around his homestead on Padden Creek.

Railway connections and improved harbor facilities in the early 20th Century led to the development of Bellingham’s timber-pulp operations, fish canneries, and pleasure boat building industries. Mountain Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is near Bellingham, which is also a gateway to the San Juan Islands. Whatcom Community College was founded in 1967 and Western Washington University in 1893. The Whatcom Museum of History and Art contains documents and artifacts on local history in four buildings.

Below are some stunning historical photos of Bellingham from the late 19th and 20th Centuries

#7 Edens Hall, Western Washington College of Education,1937

Edens Hall, Western Washington College of Education,1937

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#8 Early Whatcom County logging photo showing the tools of the trade

Early Whatcom County logging photo showing the tools of the trade

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#15 Clark Gable, Jack Oakie, during filming of “call of the wild” near mount baker, 1935

Clark Gable, Jack Oakie, during filming of “call of the wild” near mount baker, 1935

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#23 After a snowstorm, in downtown Bellingham: holly street, block west of Cornwall (dock St.), 1940.

After a snowstorm, in downtown Bellingham: holly street, block west of Cornwall (dock St.), 1940.

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#25 First Edward Eldridge home, built 1876, burned 1878

First Edward Eldridge home, built 1876, burned 1878

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#28 An “Indian pow-wow” in Cornwall Park – not an actual gathering of native Americas, but, rather, middle class white kids, 1920

An “Indian pow-wow” in Cornwall Park – not an actual gathering of native Americas, but, rather, middle class white kids, 1920

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#29 Cornwall, Leopold hotel and “sanitarium” baths, 1920

Cornwall, Leopold hotel and “sanitarium” baths, 1920

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#31 Military bridge built across Whatcom creek by George Pickett

Military bridge built across Whatcom creek by George Pickett

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#34 Richards building, erected 1858 – oldest brick building north of San Francisco

Richards building, erected 1858 – oldest brick building north of San Francisco

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#36 3 Truck Shay Locomotive #5 & Willamette Tree Rig Skidder

3 Truck Shay Locomotive #5 & Willamette Tree Rig Skidder

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#39 Bellingham theater guild presents “sweet charity,” 1948

Bellingham theater guild presents “sweet charity,” 1948

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#43 Miners posing at entrance of blue canyon mine, 1891

Miners posing at entrance of blue canyon mine, 1891

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#44 Looking southwest from chestnut street, Sehome, 1889

Looking southwest from chestnut street, Sehome, 1889

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#46 Clyde banks, preparing to take the first aerial photos of mt. Baker, 1920

Clyde banks, preparing to take the first aerial photos of mt. Baker, 1920

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#49 Henry Roeder mansion, aka “elmheim,” aka”roeder-roth home”

Henry Roeder mansion, aka “elmheim,” aka”roeder-roth home”

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#55 Engineers Side, Alco 2-6-2 Locomotive no. 1, 1909

Engineers Side, Alco 2-6-2 Locomotive no. 1, 1909

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#56 Firemans Side, 3 Truck Shay Locomotive #7 & 3 Truck Climax Locomotive #1 With a String of Loaded Log Flats

Firemans Side, 3 Truck Shay Locomotive #7 & 3 Truck Climax Locomotive #1 With a String of Loaded Log Flats

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#60 Sehome grade school, built 1890 on present site of laurel park.

Sehome grade school, built 1890 on present site of laurel park.

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#63 City of Arlington float in 1959 Blossomtime parade

City of Arlington float in 1959 Blossomtime parade

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#68 Soaping the fountain in the fountain district has been a common prank across the years.

Soaping the fountain in the fountain district has been a common prank across the years.

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#69 Washington poet Laureate Ella Higginson’s house

Washington poet Laureate Ella Higginson’s house

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#74 House built by Jack Holeman, current site of burger kind, telegraph rd., Bellingham.

House built by Jack Holeman, current site of burger kind, telegraph rd., Bellingham.

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#79 Montague McHugh building before the coming of the bon.

Montague McHugh building before the coming of the bon.

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#80 Sehome grade school built 1890 on present site of laurel park, Bellingham

Sehome grade school built 1890 on present site of laurel park, Bellingham

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#85 Mack Truck on Rails at The Landing Getting The Peak Log Loaded, 1926

Mack Truck on Rails at The Landing Getting The Peak Log Loaded, 1926

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#88 2-6-6-2 Locomotive #14 With 43 Loaded Connected Log Cars

2-6-6-2 Locomotive #14 With 43 Loaded Connected Log Cars

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#96 1970s view showing storefronts across from fountain in fountain district

1970s view showing storefronts across from fountain in fountain district

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#97 Bellingham International Airport Maintenance, 1983

Bellingham International Airport Maintenance, 1983

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#98 Bellingham YMCA delegation in House chamber, 1949

Bellingham YMCA delegation in House chamber, 1949

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#99 Boats in Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham Yacht Club building, 1900

Boats in Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham Yacht Club building, 1900

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#100 Empty Mack Truck on Rails at The Bottom of The Incline Waiting To be Rigged & Yarded up The Incline, 1926

Empty Mack Truck on Rails at The Bottom of The Incline Waiting To be Rigged & Yarded up The Incline, 1926

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#102 Gymnasium, Western Washington College of Education, 1937

Gymnasium, Western Washington College of Education, 1937

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#104 Military bridge across Whatcom creek, build by George Pickett

Military bridge across Whatcom creek, build by George Pickett

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#118 2 Truck Shay Locomotive #4 CN 820 Leaving Landing With 3 Loaded Disconnect Log Cars

2 Truck Shay Locomotive #4 CN 820 Leaving Landing With 3 Loaded Disconnect Log Cars

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#121 Bellingham Kiwanis visit to Bellingham coal mine, 1935

Bellingham Kiwanis visit to Bellingham coal mine, 1935

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#122 Bellingham International Airport Fire Station from the front, September 1981

Bellingham International Airport Fire Station from the front, September 1981

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#126 G.S. Williams, William Entwistle, and L.T. Webster at Entwistle Lookout, 1954

G.S. Williams, William Entwistle, and L.T. Webster at Entwistle Lookout, 1954

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Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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