Junius Rochester

Junius Rochester, whose family has shaped the city for many generations, is an award-winning Northwest historian and author of numerous books about Seattle and other places.

Becoming Spokane: Spokan Gary and a Link Between Cultures

It would be years before Spokan Gary would be honored as a defender of his people.

Anybody Who was Anybody: H.L. Mencken from a Distance

Today, few readers remember the power of HLM’s words and presence on the American cultural stage. 

Excursions: Hood Canal

At the turn of the century Puget Sound became a haven for free-thinkers, religious crusaders, and utopians. 

Water-World: State Ferries as They’re Supposed to be

History buffs, backpackers, stressed commuters, and wide-eyed tourists continue to be charmed and revived by the graceful rhythms aboard our Washington State Ferry system.

State of the Union: The Lake that Connected a City

Puget Sound Natives, likely migrating from the north in the 12,000 years ago, found a perfect home on the shores of Lake Union.

How Grand Opera Almost Came to Our Northwest Forest

The magic of Santa Fe Opera mixed with Wagner’s grand dramas recalls those days when Seattle dreamed big, mixing art with natural grandeur.

Making a List: Writers who Touched the Pacific Northwest

One example: Gertrude Stein’s longtime companion, Alice B. Toklas, was raised in Seattle, where her father owned one of the city’s early department stores.

Moveable Feast: The “Travelling Library” that Informed Lewis and Clark

The Lewis and Clark Expedition was deeply "bookish," using many of the scientific books and experts of that Enlightened era.

Ups and Downs: How the Fremont Bridge Came to Be

The Fremont neighborhood – and its nearby bridge – received its moniker from the community’s founders, L.H. Griffith and E. Blewett, who wanted to honor their hometown of Fremont, Nebraska.

The Diverse, Dramatic History of Northwest Religions

Why was Mt. Rainier regarded as a female god? What started the bitterness between Whites and Indians? Why did revivalists work so well in the Pacific Northwest?

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