clockwise around Lake Sammamish
eastbound on Interstate 90
- Geologic Map of the East Half of the Bellevue South 7.5’ x 15’ Quadrangle, Issaquah Area, King County, Washington
The Issaquah area includes several of the most outstanding geologic features of the eastern Puget Lowland region. Folds have warped thousands of meters of Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Several hundred meters of both glacial and postglacial sediment have accumulated in a deep glacial trough, which is now partly occupied by Lake Sammamish but which was previously the conduit for massive volumes of meltwater during ice-sheet occupation and retreat. The eastern projection of an east-west-oriented crustal structure, which reflects Tertiary through Holocene fault displacement, extends across the eastern part of the map area.
- Issaquah - Thumbnail History (historylink.org)
Issaquah, located east of Lake Washington along Interstate-90, has experienced two periods of rapid growth during its lengthy history. The first came in the late nineteenth century when the local economy was fueled by the coal, lumber, hop growing, and dairy industries. During the mid-twentieth century the town became somewhat dormant, then once again saw vast development. In 2003, the city was listed as the fastest growing community in the state of Washington.
- From Many, One: The Immigrant Threads of Issaquah’s History (issaquahhistorymuseums.com)
Historically, our area was home to the Coast Salish people, which included our local Snoqualmie and Sammamish tribes. Squak Valley (now Issaquah) was remote and wild. No roads, no trains, and the only access was by water or old Indian trails. In the 1860s as Indigenous communities experienced displacement in the valley from land and resources, early immigrants joined those settlers. What they found was a fertile valley, fresh water, big trees, and a place to build a new life. And with them came the traditions and expertise of their homelands, laying the groundwork for Issaquah’s evolving identity.
- City of Issaquah Resolution No. 2003-04 [PDF] (civicweb.net)
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Issaquah, by this Resolution and public record, do hereby commend Ruth Kees for her outstanding service and commitment to sustainability to the City of Issaquah and in her honor, resolve that the Issaquah Creek Tributary # 0199 in the City of Issaquah shall be known as “Kees Creek”
natural resources conservation area
- Uncovering their Legacy: Remarkable Women of Issaquah in the 1800s into the 1900s (issaquahhistorymuseums.com)
Issaquah (or depending on the era: Gilman and Squak Valley) has long been the home of noteworthy women – from a time when the only residents in the area were indigenous communities, to when pioneers arrived settling their homesteads in the mid-1800s, and up into the present day. And while their contributions are vast and varied, today we’re highlighting four select women – each pillars of strength who impacted their communities, and it’s a fair assessment, didn’t follow conventional paths. Oh, but what a life!
- Issaquah, WA - Official Website (issaquahwa.gov)
Issaquah, named Best Burb by Sunset, one of the Best Towns for Families by Family Circle and one of the Best Towns by Outside, is a great place for residents and visitors alike. Our community of more than 40,000 is conveniently located off the Interstate 90 corridor, just 16 miles east of Seattle.
older name for the valley
- Razing the Bar: Saloons & Prohibition in Issaquah (issaquahhistorymuseums.com)
In Issaquah’s rough-cut formative years, saloons outnumbered hotels and churches. Workers’ hard-earned wages went to whiskey and the town had a reputation. And over time, with increased ordinances, the rise of the temperance movement, and Prohibition taking effect, the town was forced to evolve… but they didn’t give up the “drink.”
- A Sausage Stuffer and Memorabilia from a 1950s Dance Teacher (issaquahhistorymuseums.com)
This sausage stuffer is the original appliance used by John Fischer at Fischer Meats in the 1910s. A sausage stuffer is used to load ground meat into the casing. By turning the hand crank the piston pushes the meat down the canister, through the stuffing tube, and into the casing. This process creates a consistent, uniform sausage, minimizing air pockets and producing a better-looking final product than hand stuffing.
- Self-Guided Walking Tour (issaquahhistorymuseums.com)
Our self-guided walking tour is a leisurely stroll covering twenty sites. It starts at the Issaquah Visitor’s Center on Gilman Boulevard and ends at the Issaquah Depot Museum. If you are starting at the Depot, just take the tour backwards! You may also want to visit Gilman Village, a unique shopping center created by moving historic houses and retail buildings to a site on Gilman Boulevard just west of the Visitor’s Center.
- Issaquah Trails (issaquahwa.gov)
With more than 200 miles of trails, over 60 trailheads and 1,300 acres of open space in our backyard, it’s easy to see why Issaquah is nicknamed Trailhead City.
Washington Trails Association
- Lake Sammamish State Park (wta.org)
A beach, forests, wetlands, and the potential to spot wildlife; Lake Sammamish State Park has it all. And people have been appreciating what the area has to offer for generations – the land around the lake is culturally significant as a gathering place for several Native American tribes.
- Squak Mountain’s East Side Loop (wta.org)
This 8 mile loop begins and ends in the heart of Issaquah. In the language of the native tribes, Ishquowh means “sound of water birds.” The raspy name of this mountain comes from the calls of the herons that migrate through this area in the spring and fall.
- Issaquah, Washington (Wikipedia)
Issaquah (/ˈɪsəkwɑː/ ISS-ə-kwah) is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 40,051 at the 2020 census. Located in a valley and bisected by Interstate 90, the city is bordered by the Sammamish Plateau to the north and the “Issaquah Alps” to the south. It is home to the headquarters of the multinational retail company Costco Wholesale Corporation. Issaquah is included in the Seattle metropolitan area.
- Issaquah (Wikivoyage)
Issaquah is a city of 40,000 people (2019) in King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Its historic downtown is a popular base for hiking in the foothills of the Cascades.
