Kirkland Washington King County Ferry Dock Mercantile Real Photo Postcard
The ferry dock depicted was central to Kirkland, Washington, serving as a critical transportation artery across Lake Washington during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Before the extensive development of road infrastructure and bridges, ferries were the primary means of connecting Kirkland's growing community with Seattle and other regional centers, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and raw materials essential for its nascent industries like logging and shipbuilding.
Adjacent to the dock, businesses such as the Kirkland Mercantile General Merchandise, Kirkland Drug Store, and Kirkland Livery Stable underscore the town's reliance on waterborne commerce and horse-drawn transport. These establishments catered to both local residents and the active waterfront economy, representing the commercial backbone of Kirkland in an era before widespread automobile adoption, likely placing this scene in the early 1900s, shortly after the town's incorporation in 1905.
Adjacent to the dock, businesses such as the Kirkland Mercantile General Merchandise, Kirkland Drug Store, and Kirkland Livery Stable underscore the town's reliance on waterborne commerce and horse-drawn transport. These establishments catered to both local residents and the active waterfront economy, representing the commercial backbone of Kirkland in an era before widespread automobile adoption, likely placing this scene in the early 1900s, shortly after the town's incorporation in 1905.
