Driving On WA SR-99 North In 1991 (Federal Way, Kent, Des Moines, Sea-Tac, Tukwila, Seattle)

Back in 1991, The Washington State Department of Transportation drove north on SR-99 and recorded video to document the highway. This was part of a project that photographed/videotaped the states highways every couple of years. This video now resides at The Washington State Archives who were kind enough to share it.

[@sonhuynh8222]

This was the year after my graduation ….. I grew up in FW. This Pac Hwy drive is like a time capsule of my teenage years ❤

[@Tornado1994]

Lived in Federal Way from 1997-2000.

[@benoproductions2711]

I grew up in Federal Way too, but I graduated in 2021. I was born in 03, so it's really special to see how things looked 12 years before I was born. The tape recorder was one of the greatest inventions ever made.

[@sumnerbrent]

I really appreciate the efforts of the people who did this documentation. Thanks!

[@highwayvideos3434]

They did a great job!

[@cjg8763]

I'm almost half way through this. It's crazy how much has changed since then but some of it is still the same.

[@Roughneck26]

I know right I lived in Desmoines but was always in Federal Way at Sea-Tack mall I worked there.

[@Tornado1994]

@@Roughneck26 Kurt Cobain used to take Drives through these Towns. In fact, he was last seen in Tukwila on April 5,1994. Also, Kent was a BIG place for Heroin. No Joke. I saw Heroin deals get made at Federal Way High School behind it in October 1998, the dealers got the supplies directly from Kent. Kent was ALSO where Kurt got his Smack from.

[@dead91silvia]

I moved to Tukwila as a kid in about 1992... moved in 2017. I had forgot how much has changed. And driving the viaduct was pretty cool! Really miss that thing!

[@Skier10]

So much more open space and greenery then now. Sadly so under appreciated for contributing to so much less tension back then

[@cjg8763]

I miss riding/driving over the viaduct.

[@rosea9737]

57:52 Chubby & Tubby's a great establishment where you could get just about anything... ;)

[@cjg8763]

I miss Chubby and Tubby. Growing up that's where almost all of my shoes came from, among other things, and I'd go there with my dad every December to get a christmas tree. Wish that store was still around. They had it all.

[@rosea9737]

@@cjg8763 Oh yes, the $5 Christmas Tree? I remember it well. ;)

[@cjg8763]

Chubby and Tubby! I miss that store!!!

[@NipkowDisk]

I remember 1991 well, it was the first year I worked at WSDOT; retired at the end of May, 2020. Really glad these recordings are available! Too bad they didn't film them in the earlier years... or maybe they did-

[@dgendvil]

I've seldomly went through there... since this was the way between Tacoma & Seattle before the interstate was built.

[@SeVeN42095]

Very nice! Was cool seeing Jack in the Box on 312th again. Wish they could have driven past Sea-Tac mall. I used to live in Bright Water Apts up the street from the mall. Moved to east coast in 96'.

[@sonhuynh8222]

I must of went to Sea-Tac mall 100s of times as a teenage. Cruising that area Fri/Sat nights were the best.

[@shimaspec]

That Jack in the Box burned down not too long ago

[@Jonathan_Taylor]

Gary Ridgway drove through that drive‐thru and watched a movie at the cinema on that same block..

[@GenX_US_Marine]

I love watching these videos. A lot of it still looks the same today.

[@or3609]

18:24 midway drive in, double header of cocoon and starman ❤️

[@richardgadberry8398]

Surprised it was still showing movies in '91. I thought it was already a swap meet by then.

[@stanburdick9708]

@@richardgadberry8398 that was fantastic swap meet before the rotten SOBs tore it down😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@acerpalmatum6446]

Driving N on the viaduct on a sunny day was always a great view!

[@cjg8763]

Driving the Battery Street tunnel was always kind of scary. Those lanes were so narrow!

[@alooga555]

19:57 Is that the last Dunkin' Donuts that was still in business in Washington state? I remember going there.

[@dgendvil]

But there were also plenty of Winchell's there. Are they still around?

[@SurrealKangaroo12]

There was one in Federal Way I remember being around as late as 2002/2003.

[@rosea9737]

@@dgendvil No, the whole state got healthy or something.. I remember the last one I went to. about 20 years ago... both Winchells and Dunkin' .. poof.. gone!

[@marianevitt3428]

Thank you so much for this - what a fun trip down memory lane!

[@That_Guy78]

I do like looking at some of the old cars. It really took both European and Japanese suspensions coming to the US to make a decent car. The old US "luxury" cars were really more like a boat rutter than a real steering wheel. They were soooooooo bad. Catallac was garbage until about 10 years ago... and now they are actually decent if you can force yourself to deal with an automatic.

[@chrisyarbrough785]

I lived in federal way at the green parrot inn 1965

[@PPPPP883]

Back then King County highway was so clean! Now is filled with trash!

[@thatkydbrian7171]

I can see the Jay walking has been around FOREVER. 23 born and raised here

[@jodylancaster8706]

We bought a house in the Redondo area in 1993. It's interesting to see what is gone, and what is still around.

[@cjg8763]

Well this was pretty cool to watch. Much has changed but some is still the same. I have lived in Seattle my entire life and was six years old when this video was recorded, I wonder where I was and what I was doing at the time.

[@paule4566]

9:56 Pay ‘N Pak sign on the right. Hardware, automotive, sporting goods chain based in Kent.

[@allrequiredfields]

Love this channel

[@casmatori]

I love trying to spot the 1991 model cars.

[@wade998]

There's a few but money was different back then and auto loans were 11.5%..

[@Roughneck26]

Wow Driving down Memory lane here Holy crap so much has changed No more Midway Driven either, Fred Myers still there I think. Wow I live in Edgewood/Milton now but man so much has changed, He passes McD's Restaurant on the right in Des Moines, I used to work there when I was a Teen bought my first Vehicle from a co-worker there Mazda Rx4 huh man what a time.

[@Commenter563]

Felony way. 1991!

[@Ktgsvtrdg66]

You can really tell the 90s were literally a brighter time. Soo gloomy these days in comparison.

[@samiosman1640]

The Keg was good

[@bluelagoon1980]

I still crave their warm sourdough...

[@rosea9737]

@@bluelagoon1980 Not a match to The Keg by all means, but I like seeing how many Skippers there were back then.. :)

[@jamesthompson8659]

Wasn't this just last week ?

[@aaronpotter7025]

What About Bob and Thelma and Louise was playing at the Midway Drive In!

[@cjg8763]

The Kingdome!!!

[@stanburdick9708]

Yep, your $$$$$$$$$$$$ up in smoke

[@dgendvil]

Monday July 1, 1991.

[@Tornado1994]

Nirvana's Nevermind was just two months away from debuting.

[@gertrudelanny9241]

Seattle was dirty, gritty but yet iconic. Now it’s just a mess

[@armchairphilosopher6880]

Kids dont go outside cus this is what we took from them

[@DeezLouize]

This whole stretch has been my stomping grounds for the past 30 years.. and the only thing I miss on this whole stretch is @18:20 the old Midway Drive-in Swap Meet!