Leavenworth’s history does not begin with the alpine tradition it
knows today, but with the proud heritage of the Yakima, Chinook and Wenatchi
tribes. The Native American tribes lived by hunting the land for deer and
elk, as well as fishing Icicle Creek for salmon. Surrounded by some of
the most beautiful and bountiful lands in North America, the three tribes
co-existed from Lake Wenatchee to the Icicle and beyond.
The area was eventually settled by pioneers in search of gold, furs
and fertile farmland. Stakes were claimed, land was tracked, and the
Leavenworth area was soon bustling with settlers. By 1890, the original
town was built on the Icicle Flats.
But it wasn’t until the end of the century when the town began
to blossom with the arrival of the rail line. The Great Northern Railway
Company’s tracks through Leavenworth brought with them opportunities
for work, commerce and a new economy.
A sawmill and a healthy logging industry eventually fell apart, however,
when the Great Northern Railway Company pulled out of Leavenworth. The
re-routing of the railroad and the subsequent closure of the sawmill
sadly converted the town from a bustling, thriving hub of commerce into
a hollow, empty community. For more than thirty years, Leavenworth lived
on the brink of extinction.
But in the early 1960’s, everything changed. In a last-chance
effort to turn their precarious situation around, the leaders of the
community decided to change Leavenworth’s appearance, hoping to
bring tourism into the area. Using the beautiful backdrop of the surrounding
Alpine hills to their advantage, the town agreed to remodel their hamlet
in the form of a Bavarian village.
If you'd like to visit Leavenworth and need more information to plan
your
trip, please visit the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce at
www.leavenworth.org.
*used by permission from the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce
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