"Green Gold: Logging the Pacific Northwest." Exhibit at the Whatcom Museum, Bellingham, Washington
The logging industry began in Bellingham, Washington in 1850 and played a crucial role in its development and growth. Two Californians, Captain Henry Roeder and Russell V. Peabody, arrived at the mouth of Whatcom Creek and established a water-powered sawmill, taking advantage of the area’s abundant forests and waterways. The sawmill’s success attracted more settlers and businesses to the area.
The demand for lumber, especially after the fire in San Francisco, led to rapid economic growth. Bellingham became a hub for logging and milling, which in turn supported other industries like mining, canning (especially salmon), and railroads. The prosperity brought by the logging industry led to the consolidation of four settlements – Whatcom, Sehome, Fairhaven, and Bellingham – into one city in 1904. This made Bellingham the fourth-largest municipality in Washington at the time. The logging industry provided employment for many, including local Native American tribes who built houses and mills and contributed significantly to the local economy.
Even today, the legacy of the logging industry is evident in Bellingham’s culture and economy. While the city has diversified, the historical impact of logging is still celebrated and remembered through various local museums and historical sites. [Sources: Bing Copilot, HistoryLink.org, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}
[Note: It is sad when an ancient tree such as the one in the photo falls victim to the axe. Today, logging in old-growth forests is still a contentious issue. However, many ancient old-growth or mature native forests are now protected from logging and are open to the public.]
"Green Gold: Logging the Pacific Northwest." Exhibit at the Whatcom Museum, Bellingham, Washington
The logging industry began in Bellingham, Washington in 1850 and played a crucial role in its development and growth. Two Californians, Captain Henry Roeder and Russell V. Peabody, arrived at the mouth of Whatcom Creek and established a water-powered sawmill, taking advantage of the area’s abundant forests and waterways. The sawmill’s success attracted more settlers and businesses to the area.
The demand for lumber, especially after the fire in San Francisco, led to rapid economic growth. Bellingham became a hub for logging and milling, which in turn supported other industries like mining, canning (especially salmon), and railroads. The prosperity brought by the logging industry led to the consolidation of four settlements – Whatcom, Sehome, Fairhaven, and Bellingham – into one city in 1904. This made Bellingham the fourth-largest municipality in Washington at the time. The logging industry provided employment for many, including local Native American tribes who built houses and mills and contributed significantly to the local economy.
Even today, the legacy of the logging industry is evident in Bellingham’s culture and economy. While the city has diversified, the historical impact of logging is still celebrated and remembered through various local museums and historical sites. [Sources: Bing Copilot, HistoryLink.org, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}
[Note: It is sad when an ancient tree such as the one in the photo falls victim to the axe. Today, logging in old-growth forests is still a contentious issue. However, many ancient old-growth or mature native forests are now protected from logging and are open to the public.]