The Beacon Hill Neighborhood
Beacon Hill is Seattle’s most historic and livable neighborhood. It was named after a Victorian-era beacon that once stood on top of the hill to warn residents of an approaching fire. This article will show you why Beacon Hill is such a great place for families and retirees looking to settle down in Emerald City!
The Beacon Hill Neighborhood is known for its vibrant community, fantastic restaurants, cafes, independent businesses, retail shopping destinations with the most popular stores in the city. It’s also great for commuters as it is close to Interstate-90, which can take you north or south of town reasonably quickly! This neighborhood has plenty of walkability features that make exploring a breeze – be careful if you’re planning on going after dark because many parts aren’t well lit. The best way to see this up-and-coming area would be by foot, but buses frequently run along 15th Avenue South, leading directly into Downtown Seattle!
About the Beacon Hill Neighborhood
Beacon Hill neighborhood is located in the southeast of downtown. The hill was named after a lighthouse that stood on it for over 40 years before being demolished in 1881, but its history goes back to 1850 when Henry Yesler arrived here and built his steam-powered sawmill near what would become First Avenue South. A town quickly grew up around him known as ‘Doc Maynard’s or ‘Little Seattle.’ It became more formally organized with the arrival of David Denny and Thomas Mercer, who established west of present-day Jefferson Park, which was then still outside city limits. This first platting had strict requirements about land use, lot size, building setbacks (see pictures), even prohibitions against certain types of business like drinking establishments! But as was typical in those days, it also allowed for small farms as long as the owner had a residence within one mile of his property. Until 1886, Seattle annexed this area and then renamed Mount Baker after another nearby hill.
Beacon Hill is now an official historic district on the National Register. Beacon Hill Historic District includes houses built from 1890 to 1940, most with Victorian architecture styles including Queen Anne style homes with turrets and stained glass windows, bungalows or cottages, vernacular types such as American Four Squares, Colonial Revival’s & Tudor Revivals which are popular among immigrants who came here during World War I seeking work at Boeing Company where they would learn skills that could be used back home. The Neighborhood is filled with trees, views, and friendly people working hard to make this area even more livable than it already is!
Facts about the Beacon Hill Neighborhood
The annual Art Walks are hosted by numerous galleries located throughout the historic district, allowing locals to meet with local artists and celebrate community art together. The highly acclaimed “Taste Washington Wine Gala” event is held at the Seattle Tennis Club by their Beacon Hill location.
The primary institution of learning in the neighborhood is on Jefferson Street S.: South Seattle Community College, which hosts an active theater arts program and offers eight-degree programs and workforce training classes. The school also manages its public community garden (South Campus Garden), open to all members of the college and residents living nearby.
This leaves room for over 100 plots available to rent. Many are located just south of Columbia City Station off Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., alongside a large playground area and three other schools: Gateway Elementary School, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, and Washington High. Nearby are two different public schools, Dearborn Park International Elementary and Beacon Hill’s own John Muir.
Beacon Hill has one newspaper serving the community known as “The South Seattle Emerald,” which was established in 2009 to cover the news of interest for all residents living on what they dubbed “the southeast hill” (which includes North Beacon) along with parts of Rainier neighborhoods including Rainier Beach and Seward Park. They also host arts, entertainment, sports features, and all the other basics to cover what people want in their neighborhood news sources.
Beacon Hill Neighborhood is filled with one-of-a-kind homes, gorgeous views, and friendly neighbors working hard to make this area even more livable than it already is! Residents are surrounded by parks like Beacon Mountain Viewpoint Park, Jefferson Square Playground & Dog Run, Dr. Jose Rizal Park, Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington Campus just down the street. Its proximity to downtown makes commuting easy by car or bus via Interstate-90, which terminates in an underground tunnel beneath Mt. Baker that connects into I-405 Southbound for those who live south of here near Boeing Field, where cargo jets fly out daily all over the world since 1928 when Bill Boeing started his company there on Lake Union now called Lake Washington. Then there is the Sounder Commuter Train that runs between Everett and Tacoma with its second stop in Beacon Hill Neighborhood.
Activities and Events in Beacon Hill Neighborhood
Beacon Hill Neighborhood is packed with things to see and do. Whether you are looking for some culture or want to spend the day shopping, this neighborhood has it all!
From outdoor concerts like the music in the park series at Jefferson Park, Beacon Mountain Festival held each year on Memorial Day weekend, and other numerous festivals that happen throughout the year, there is always something going on. It also features one of Seattle’s most popular farmers’ markets, which takes place every Sunday from March through December, only blocks away from your new home at Alder House Apartments if you need a break after spending so much time out enjoying all these significant events, head over to Forage Kitchen & Bar where they serve up unique dishes made by local producers who grow, raise and swap their goods at the market.
At the Beacon Food Forest, people are encouraged to come out for monthly work parties or join any of the various groups who regularly meet up here, such as Slow Food Seattle, Growing Leaders Networking Group, Southeast Seattle Green Spaces Alliance & more! This group provides an opportunity for everyone interested in growing food, sharing resources & building a more robust local network, along giving back through hands-on volunteerism to help make this neighborhood an even better place to live. Since the beginning of the project, more than 450 trees have been planted and over 70 native plants. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife, from birds & butterflies to bees!
Many activities are nearby, including local parks like Jefferson Park, which features a half-mile track around its interior. The park offers many different types of recreation for all ages and brings new life to the community with things like outdoor concerts, end-of-summer music in the park series, and this year’s Beacon Mountain Festival, which takes place in May. Seattle Parks and Recreation also offers classes for everyone from toddlers to seniors.
There are many beautiful views when exploring this neighborhood, including a stunning view of downtown Seattle as you climb up Nichols Hill Park (the highest point within city limits), views of the Cascades and Olympic Mountains, as well as stunning sunsets.
Living in Beacon Hill Neighborhood also gives you access to shopping with lots of small shops within walking distance, including locally owned New Seasons Market, which is like a smaller version of Whole Foods but much more affordable! If dining out is your thing, many restaurants nearby, including some of Seattle’s best Ethiopian cuisine at Queen Sheba, which features traditional cooking with a modern twist. You can also find delicious Asian fusion food & bubble tea just down the street at Cascadia Tea House.
Beacon Hill Neighborhood is also full of culture. From historical attractions like The Northwest African American Museum to the unique art galleries that line both sides of 12th Ave S, there is plenty for you to explore in this neighborhood! If all these great things about Beacon Hill Neighborhood have your head spinning with excitement, no need to worry because Alder House Apartments are located just minutes away from everything here!
Things to do in Beacon Hill Neighborhood
Waterfall Garden: Waterfall Garden is a great place to spend the afternoon. The garden has plants native to Washington State, and it holds events throughout the year for the community.
Kubota Garden: Kubota Garden is a tranquil and peaceful place to spend the day. It has stunning water, plant life, and many different kinds of trees within its landscape.
Amazon Spheres: The Amazon Spheres are a beautiful example of glass architecture and are an architectural marvel. It holds many unique plants that can only be found in the Seattle area.
Seattle Selfie Museum: The Seattle Selfie Museum is a great place to spend the afternoon and for those who love selfies. It has a collection of selfie exhibits and displays.
Sky View Observatory: Sky View Observatory is a great place to spend the afternoon, and it has fantastic panoramic views of Seattle. It also gives visitors information about all of the skyscrapers and buildings are seen in the area.
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