"Watch Columbia Grow!"
In April of 1891, the promotional prowess of several developers put that sign atop a street car in Seattle. In just a few months, the Rainier Valley swelled from three farms to 45 lots sold, though it was still little more than a clearing amidst wooded hills. For those who moved to Columbia City, the streetcars were the lifeline back to the city. And the ride cost just a nickel. What flourished was a community with its own industry, prominent families, and the desire to grow as it cultivated commerce away from downtown Seattle.

Today, Columbia City and the Rainier Valley are as ever thriving communities, reviving their store façades and local history to celebrate their roots and continue to add to the area's rich history. The Rainier Valley Historical Society has collected a majority of our photographs from relatives of the original founders of the Rainier Valley, as well as journals, letters, and other first-hand accounts of the area's most colorful characters. The society itself holds more than we could ever include here, so feel free to contact us with any questions or research we could help you with.

If you've got information or artifacts to add to our collection, or want to be a part of preserving our history, please contact us here!