Ferries of Puget Sound

Images of America: Washington

by Steven J. Pickens

Ferryboats have been a way of life on Puget Sound since settlers first arrived there. From the wooden Mosquito Fleet to the sleek art deco Kalakala, the ferries of Puget Sound serve as a cultural icon to visitors and locals alike. Running from Point Defiance to Sidney, British Columbia, the Washington State ferry system is the single largest tourist attraction in the state, with 28 routes and 23 million riders annually. Names like Vashon, Kalakala, and Chetzemoka still resonate with fondness and nostalgia long after they have gone, while ships built the year Lindberg flew solo across the Atlantic will soon be pensioned off and pass into the "Ghost Fleet." In this volume, travelers are invited to look back to the past and bid Puget Sound's "ancient mariners" a fond farewell.

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2006

Reviews

[Tbfrank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primarily a catalog of the Ferries that have sailed Puget Sound over the past century plus, there are many fine photographs of the vessels with brief descriptions of their origins (many from San Francisco), their sizes and accommodations, power plants, and in several cases, their unfortunate demise. An nice addition would have been a short essay on the various engines from steam to diesel to the potential of hybrid electric ships anticipated in the next two decades.

[Erin McQuin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best darn rootin' tootin' book about ferries around. As a life long Washingtonian, I learned a few new facts about the ferry system. Plus! All the historical images of the older vessels were super cool. This book is more than a 5/5 ... It's a 10/10! Because it's joy X 2!