Gray Line Sightseer passing through U. S. Government Locks, second largest locks in the world. The locks make it possible for large ships to come into the heart of the city to Lake Union and Lake Washington as well as bringing the small craft into a snug harbor. 

Ektachrome by Max R. Jensen 

 

 

 

( Kah- lock-ah-lah, Chinook for Flying Bird) is the world's first completely Streamlined Motor Ferry. The hull is divided into twenty-five water-tight compartments, making it virtually unsinkable. Length over all 276 feet; beam over all 55.8 feet; passenger capacity 2000; automobile capacity 110; has 5 decks; horsepower main engine 3000; cruising speed 18 knots. The Kalakala is designed primarily to meet the needs of steadily increasing passenger and automobile traffic on beautiful Puget Sound. 

 Ready for launching, the America nestled in her cradle of timbers and steel thicky spread with 46,000 lb. of stearine, tallow and grease. On the morning of August 31 a crowd of 30,000 watched, cheered while Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt swung a champagne bottle against the prow, cried: "I christen thee America". As whistle blew, the ship rode down its ways to meet the water. This launching, declared President Roosevelt by letter, "is one of the most important events to take place in the world this year."

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images and info provided by the LIFE Magazine / LIFE Magazine International / LIFE Magazine Atlantic ARCHIVE from the Zetu Harrys Collection