Now that’ s urban progre
ss! It’s not Seattle, but it’s a vintage 1962 photo showing Tacoma’s “escalades” — touted as the nation’s first publicly-owned moving sidewalks. According to
this article, they led from Pacific Avenue up to Commerce and Broadway and were out of service by the early 1980′s. Every time you’re at Sea-Tac whisking by those poor chumps who decided not to take the “escalade,” thank Tacoma! Click on the image for more res.
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“Escalades, the nation’s first publicly-owned moving sidewalks, typify the progress of bustling, beautiful Tacoma. The Escalades were part of a vast improvement program passed by voters in 1958, which won for Tacoma a National Public Relations Award for urban progress.” Seattle World’ s Fair Official Program, 1962.
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Man, I love these things! I was in the Netherlands some years back and at the airport there, they talk back to you when you are about to hop on and off.
“Mind your step.” In this cute little accent too!
Those are so cool — wish we had one going up from downtown to First Hill; would make my afternoon walk much less taxing.
Reminds me of the one that used to be in the Colman Ferry Terminal. Always seemed out ot place. It was replaced with a regular ramp, with a nice “history of wash. st. ferries” series on both walls.
They still have these things at Disneyland, except there they are called “SpeedRamps”. Disneyland has them in Tomorrowland, and at the exit of the Haunted Mansion after you get out of your Doom Buggy and you go up the SpeedRamp past the spooky holograph lady who tells you to “Hurry back!”.
Hi our little brothers.b
I remeber they use to have these downtown Seattle for the Monorail. Being a little kid we would go all the way up, then try to walk down the same one.
Memories not forgotten!!!