Washington's Cedar River originates in the Cascade Mountain Range and drains into Puget Sound via Lake Washington. Since 1899 the upper Cedar River watershed, and its subsequent reservoirs and pipeline infrastructure, have been operated by Seattle Public Utilities, providing drinking water for about two-thirds of King County. The population of Seattle and King County grew quickly after the establishment of the system, and additional reservoirs and pipelines were completed in 1911.
In this image workers pour cement at the new Beacon Hill reservoir, which had the ability to hold 61,000,000 gallons of water. A second reservoir just south of this one was also built, holding 49,000,000 gallons. Beginning in 2006, the North reservoir was decommissioned, demolished and backfilled with soil. The South reservoir was rebuilt and covered with a lid usable as a public park. Known as Jefferson Park, the area is home to the Jefferson Park Golf Course, the Jefferson Community Center, Jefferson Lawn Bowling, Jefferson Skatepark, and Beacon Mountain.
Caption information source: https://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?ID=1545829933 Caption information source: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Beacon-Hill-reservoir-will-disappear-under-new-1251289.php
ID Number: SHS3768
Date: Circa 1911
Physical Description: 1 photographic print mounted on cardboard: b&w ; 5 x 7 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
