Raining On History #22

It's rained for 22 straight days which seems pretty excessive to us, but we were really dry last winter so maybe our perspective is just skewed. Mud slides are happening and home owners are getting their first looks at puddles in the basement. Generally, it sucks. Anyway, other media outlets have been broadcasting the fact that we might meet or exceed the historical high for consecutive days of rainfall which is 33. Seems to Seattlest like we're only two-thirds of the way there. The 33 days of rain happened in 1953 so we're going to count down the days to the record by giving you a history tidbit from that year.

The Viaduct was completed on April 4, 1953, it turns out. Whether or not that date falls within the 33 days of rain 1953 experienced or not we neither know nor care.

Check out HistoryLink on the subject:

After World War II, as Seattleites relied less and less on the railroads, these tracks on Railroad Avenue were relatively little used. They became bleak and dirty reminders of another transportation age, and occupied critical space perfect for what was at the time a new, streamlined corridor for automobiles.

The reinforced concrete viaduct, with modernistic supports, now rises above the old Victorian waterfront tracks, a few of which remain in traces beneath the overpassing traffic.

Hey, "They became bleak and dirty reminders of another transportation age, and occupied critical space." That sounds a lot like the Viaduct today!