From the Archives: Flooding through the years

Spokane has seen its share of floods through the years, and The Spokesman-Review archives are full of the evidence.

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Section:Gallery

Thu., March 6, 2014

Flooding in Peaceful Valley in Spokane, Wash. in 1933.

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The rampaging Spokane river, at the highest flood stage ever recorded since accurate records have been kept, was dealing destruction over a wide area and making many Spokane families homeless in 1933. Many homes had to be evacuated and scenes such as the one pictured were common as the rising waters caught residents off guard.

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Flooding in Peaceful Valley in Spokane, Wash. in 1933.

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Driven from their homes by the rising waters of the Spokane River, shack dwellers on the east bank of the river near the Trent Avenue Bridge have been sleeping out in the open around a camp fire in 1938.

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People drive through the floodwaters at 5th and Maple in Spokane, Wash. during a rainstorm in 1957.

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Flooding at Main and Elm in Spokane, Wash.

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Washout at Marne Bridge over Hangman Creek in Spokane, Wash. in 1957. The Bridge was open to one way traffic.

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Peaceful Valley in Spokane, Wash. was well named after deluge forced evacuation of many residents in 1957. One of the city's lowest points, it bore the brunt of the runoff from higher parts of the city. Stalled car was abandoned by its owner.

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Inland Empire highway near 11th Avenue in Spokane, Wash. was four inches deep in water after a fierce cloudburst. A miniature lake caused closure of the route in 1957. Water cascaded into the back yard of R. J. Logan's home.

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Cars plow through deep water flowing from the hill into the 5th and Elm intersection in Spokane, Wash. in 1957.

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Debris from an apartment cave in caused by flooding runs into a parked truck in Peaceful Valley, in Spokane, Wash. in 1957.

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The view north on Cedar at Fourth when the runoff water still was choking helplessly overworked catch basins and storm sewers presented a soggy scene. A large part of the city was stunned by the fury of the storm.

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Men sandbag the area around Superior Street in Spokane, Wash. in 1957, to contain the flooding.

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Floodwater trap cars at Second and Maple in Spokane, Wash. in 1957.

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Northtown residents are stranded at Francis and Cannon in Spokane, Wash. in 1964.

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Curb-deep puddles can be seen in downtown Spokane, Wash. after a rainstorm in 1964.

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