Our Trip to the Great Northwest, September 1942

This home movie, filmed in September 1942, likely in rich Kodachrome, documents a family’s journey through the Great Northwest of the United States during the early WWII years. The reel unfolds with sweeping vistas of the Pacific Northwest’s rugged beauty—towering evergreens, misty mountains, and rushing rivers—possibly spanning Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. The family, dressed in wartime-era attire like wool coats and hats, is seen posing by landmarks such as Mount Rainier or the Columbia River Gorge, their smiles a quiet defiance of global turmoil. Footage captures them picnicking near a waterfall, fishing in a serene lake, or marveling at a lumber mill, reflecting the region’s natural and industrial might. A standout sequence might show the car winding along a coastal road—perhaps Highway 101—with the Pacific Ocean crashing below, or a ferry ride across Puget Sound with Seattle’s skyline in the distance. Kids wave at the camera, and adults inspect a map, blending adventure with tender domesticity. This personal travelogue, shot nine months after Pearl Harbor, offers a poignant snapshot of resilience and exploration amid wartime America.