Des Moines

Smoke filled the air above Des Moines. Captain George Vancouver, a European explorer, first laid eyes on these bluffs in 1792. Native Americans had been burning brush to hunt deer. The smoke obscured the view. Des Moines wouldn’t see significant settlement for decades. In 1867, John Moore staked a claim to 154 acres along the waterfront and built a cabin. His story took a tragic turn. Moore was later declared insane and sent to an asylum in 1879. His land was sold. It eventually came into the possession of Fountain O. Chezum. Des Moines remained largely undeveloped until 1890. A rough military trail connecting Seattle and Tacoma then passed near Des Moines. Other trails wound through the hills to the Kent Valley. Puget Sound served as the primary route for people and goods. Des Moines was ideally situated between the growing cities of Seattle and Tacoma. Entrepreneurs recognized the potential. In 1889, Chezum sold his land to F. A. Blasher. Blasher had come from Des Moines, Iowa. The same year, John W. Kleeb and Orin Watts Barlow designed the townsite. They purchased Blasher’s land. They named the new town Des Moines. They formed the Des Moines City Improvement Co. Lumber and shingle mills were among Des Moines’ first businesses. The Douglas fir and cedar forests needed clearing for development. The wood was a readily available building material. Mills frequently burned down. This was due to the flammable nature of the lumber industry. Each burned mill was simply replaced with a new one. A new wharf was built. This accommodated sea vessels. Ferries were critical to the town’s early growth. They provided the fastest and most efficient travel to Seattle and Tacoma. Private steamers initially plied the waters. The Mosquito Fleet later became the preferred mode of transport for Des Moines commuters. Des Moines grew in spurts. By 1890, Des Moines had hotels. It had a chair factory, a tin factory, a boat yard, a school, and churches. The Panic of 1893 hit the town hard. Des Moines’ population fell from 216 in 1890 to 162 in 1900. A boom in 1906 brought the population back up to 357. By 1920, it had slowly climbed to 751. Transportation options expanded beyond Puget Sound. The Seattle-Tacoma Interurban railway ran five miles east. Some residents found it worthwhile to walk to the electric train. A private trolley line ran north to Seattle. It earned comparisons to the Toonerville Trolley from the comics. The trolley service was once delayed. Dead caterpillars covered the tracks and caused the wheels to slip. The automobile further transformed Des Moines. Early roads were little more than rutted paths. Gravel and brick roads were constructed after 1910. These allowed easier car access to the city. The steep bluffs posed challenges. One winter, a wagon carrying a coffin couldn’t make it up the hill. The coffin was buried on the spot. Automobiles not only allowed residents to travel to the cities. They brought visitors from Seattle and Tacoma who wanted to see the countryside. Many of these “rubberneckers” were attracted to Des Moines. The lower cost of land was a major draw. They ended up moving there. By 1930, the population had reached almost 2,000. The completion of Pacific Highway South (SR-99) in the 1930s provided Des Moines with a direct route to Seattle and Tacoma. Small farms flourished during the Great Depression. These farms mainly produced berries and chickens. Produce could be harvested and transported to market in a single day. The highway also attracted new businesses. Service stations, motels, and restaurants catered to passing drivers. Travelers were drawn to Des Moines’ parks and shops. The Big Tree Inn was a unique and memorable establishment. It was built from the hollowed-out sections of a 2,000-year-old redwood tree. The building was originally constructed for an exposition in San Francisco. It was brought to Des Moines in the 1920s. It was later moved next to the new highway. The Big Tree Inn has since burned down. Des Moines incorporated in 1959. This was a response to the nearby town of Kent annexing land. Residents voted to become a city in their own right rather than be absorbed by Kent. Incorporation gave them greater control over local matters. This included infrastructure, development, and the impact of Sea-Tac Airport. Des Moines has a population of nearly 28,000 today. The ferries are gone. The Des Moines Marina remains a vital part of the community. People still come from Seattle and Tacoma to enjoy the waterfront. And, just like in the past, some of them choose to stay.