In his documentary about our great National Parks (2009), Ken Burns noted that the railroads were great boosters of the efforts to create and maintain public parks.

This site includes some beautiful postcard photographs of stunning vistas that were printed or distributed by the Union Pacific Railroad and other railroad companies.

This postcard features a hand-colored photograph of Deception Falls, one of several waterfalls on the Tye River in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the State of Washington.

Published by J.L. Robbins Company of Spokane, the postcard was printed in the United States circa 1915.

President Cleveland established the first National Forest in Washington State in 1897.

That act was bitterly opposed by local lumbermen and miners, but did excite intense interest of travelers.

This view of Deception Falls features the rail lines of the Great Northern Railroad.

This postcard does not appear to be directly connected to the railroad company, but the juxtaposition of rail lines is the focus of the photograph.

The photograph was not mailed.