The ferry "Kalakala" began service in 1935. Its streamlined design made it internationally famous and popular with visitors and residents alike. The ferry made six daily runs between Seattle and Bremerton, and made summer evening excursions around Puget Sound. Unfortunately, the ferry vibrated badly; it was difficult to handle and expensive to repair. Service ended in 1967, and the ferry became a shore-based seafood processing plant in Alaska. In the 1990s, a group of devoted "Kalakala" fans dug the old ferry out of the gravel and returned it to Seattle.

This photo of the ferry in Puget Sound was taken by photographer Josef Scaylea (1913-2004), who worked for 35 years as chief photographer for the Seattle Times, winning over 1000 awards for his photographs highlighting the scenery and people in the Pacific Northwest. He donated a collection of his photographs and photography equipment to MOHAI in 1993.

Handwritten on verso: 1948, Kalakala.