Stories

The Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area (Greenway NHA) is a dramatic landscape that stretches 100 miles along Interstate 90 from Ellensburg to Seattle. It weaves together waterways, mountains, forests, and farms with the cultural and historic significance of this land and its people. Few places offer such an incredible opportunity to connect with nature so near to city limits, and the Greenway NHA’s abundant natural beauty attracts people from across the globe. Behind the picturesque landscapes that we see today, exists a tapestry of stories and everchanging relationships to the land that stretch back millennia.

Use the filters below to explore stories that highlight the distinctive characteristics of the Greenway NHA and guide deeper understanding of its landscape, history, and heritage.

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Applying the Breaks: How Wildfire Resilience Work Curbed the Labor Mountain Fire
Fighting wildfires in Washington State costs an average of a million dollars a day, but there’s a much cheaper, more effective way to prevent …
Restoring Salmon Habitat in Issaquah Creek
Issaquah Creek is a vital salmon habitat that is an important wildlife corridor in the most populated watershed in the Mountain to Sound Greenway National …
Klondike Gold Rush Artifacts at Seattle’s National Historical Park
The Klondike Gold Rush ushered in a burst of economic activity and growth for Seattleites that put the city on the map as a place …
The First Black Union That Sparked the Civil Rights Movement
After the Civil War, the roots of the civil rights movement began to take shape within the Pullman Sleeping Car Company, the pioneer of luxury …
How To Coexist with Beavers: A Q&A With Beavers Northwest 
After almost going extinct, beaver populations are rebounding within the Pacific Northwest —their return brings a form of natural habitat engineering that enriches ecosystems and …
The Yakama Nation’s Enduring Legacy at the Ellensburg Rodeo
The Yakama Nation has a century-long history with the Ellensburg Rodeo, a four-day event in historic Kittitas Valley where tribes have practiced their traditions since …
Discover Mindful Biking in the Snoqualmie Valley
Use this guide to enjoy the breathtaking views within the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area with a stewardship mindset.
How To Become a Sustainable Urban Forager 
You don’t need to whip up entire meals from your local green spaces to call yourself a sustainable urban forager. But what you do …
Redlining in Seattle
Seattle has a history of complex and overlapping policies that maintained intergenerational wealth and power among Whites and excluded many Indigenous, Black, people of color, …