National Register of Historic Places

Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie, King County, Washington
Listed
September 1, 2009
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
92000784

About this property

Snoqualmie Falls is a 268-foot (82 m) waterfall in the northwest United States, located east of Seattle on the Snoqualmie River between Snoqualmie and Fall City, Washington. It is one of Washington's most popular scenic attractions and is known internationally for its appearance in the television series Twin Peaks. More than 1.5 million visitors come to the Falls every year, where there is a two-acre (0.8 ha) park, an observation deck, luxury lodge, spa, restaurant, and a gift shop. Most of the river is diverted into power plants, but at times the river is high enough to flow across the entire precipice, which creates an almost blinding spray. High water occurs following a period of heavy rains or snow followed by warm rainy weather. This can occur during the rainy season which lasts from November through March. During high water, the falls take on a curtain form. For the Snoqualmie People, who have lived since time immemorial in the Snoqualmie Valley in western Washington, Snoqualmie Falls is central to their culture, beliefs, and spirituality. A traditional burial site, to the Snoqualmie, the falls are "the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer" and "where prayers were carried up to the Creator by great mists that rise from the powerful flow." The mists rising from the base of the waterfall are said to serve to connect Heaven and Earth. The falls were first nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 as a Traditional Cultural Property for its association with the beliefs of the Snoqualmie people. However, the property owner, Puget Sound Energy, objected to the listing. The falls were subsequently determined eligible for listing in the National Register. The owners rescinded their objection and on September 2, 2009, the falls were formally listed in the National Register. In October 2019, the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe purchased the Salish Lodge as well as 45 acres of surrounding land for $125 million.

Location

Snoqualmie, King County, Washington
47.54265, -121.83860

Categories

NATIVE AMERICAN
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District
Listed
0 mi
Snoqualmie Falls Cavity Generating Station
Industrial
0.2 mi
Snoqualmie School Campus
Industrial
1.1 mi
Snoqualmie Depot
Industrial
1.2 mi
Messenger of Peace Chapel Car
Industrial
2.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Snoqualmie Falls listed on the National Register?

Snoqualmie Falls was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 1, 2009.

What type of historic resource is Snoqualmie Falls?

Snoqualmie Falls is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Snoqualmie Falls?

The period of significance for Snoqualmie Falls is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Snoqualmie Falls?

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