Washington State History Museum's painting of Mount Rainier pretty as a picture

Here are a couple of views of Mount Rainier, at 14,411 feet the highest mountain in Washington.

Portlanders can get occasional views of the massive stratovolcano from high points around the city on clear days.

I took these two photos recently: one is a photograph of a painting, the other of the real mountain.

The large painting hangs in the Great Hall of Washington History in the Washington State History Museum at Tacoma.

When I visit Tacoma, I usually head for the Museum of Glass first, but I always seem to find my way into the history museum on the other side of the Chihuly Bridge of Glass.

Washington has so many interesting facets, upon them agriculture, the Alaska gold rush, electrical power, a nuclear reservation, Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks. The museum covers it all.

My photo of the real Mount Rainier was a welcome opportunity, since it came in January.

It was during the cold, clear spell in the valleys, with the temperature warming in the mountains.

I jumped at the opportunity of having snow-free roads and drove to see the elk and bighorn sheep feeding programs west of Yakima.

Mount Rainier comes into view at several places on U.S. 12, the White Pass Scenic Byway, but the best is a large pullout about three miles west of the pass. Take the time to stop, on a clear day.

-- Terry Richard

Source: http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2013/02/washington_state_history_museu.html

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