Bellevue History Timeline
1930 to 1949

1930
Union "S" High School was built on 102nd Avenue NE between NE lst and NE 4th. It was demolished during construction of the downtown park.

1938
Ground was broken for the construction of the first floating bridge across Lake Washington.

1940
The completed Lacey V. Murrow Floating Bridge was opened.

1940
World War II

1942
Three hundred local Japanese-Americans were sent to relocation camps. The Strawberry Festival was cancelled.

The Overlake School District was formed consolidating Bellevue, Medina, The Points, Highland, and Factoria schools.

1946
Kemper Freeman opened Bellevue Square, which was the first regional suburban shopping center.

Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair began and grew to become the largest outdoor art show in the U.S.

The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce was established.

1948
War Memorial Stadium was given to the Overlake School District by the Living War Memorial Committee.

1949
Overlake Senior High dedication ceremony officially opens the school.

The tolls were removed from the Lacey V. Murrow floating bridge, marking the beginning of the suburban population explosion.