At least one historical hard cover Seattle photo history book and a HistoryLink post on Alki Point have presented this image as 'A Outing near Alki Point', 1889. (Alki Point is in Seattle)
When I saw both publications, the image didn't quite feel like Alki or anything near Seattle.
The large hill or mountain in the background seemed too tall and too close to be in Seattle.
Often telephoto lenses can squeeze elements together and bring mountains closer to the foreground, but I assume the photographer didn't have a 600mm lens in 1889, even on a view camera.
So I posted the image on the Facebook group "Puget Sound and Surrounds." Everyone who responded agreed it's definitely not Seattle. Maybe Chuckanut Drive, Hood Canal or.. the San Juans?
It was decided through similar photos and Google Earth that it was Orcas Island!
Here's the results!
