Georgetown Walking Tour (34 images)
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In the words of Rodney Dangerfield, Seattle's Georgetown "don't get no respect". Given its
record of late 20th century post-industrial decay this is
understandable. However with something of a revival underway, driven by
a vibrant arts and culture community, perhaps Georgetown deserves some
respect after all. To see for myself, I recently spent two days
exploring the neighborhood...
I am indebted to the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs for their
beautifully researched walking tour published in two parts at the City of
Seattle's website. Historic Georgetown remains within its original
boundaries of BNSF Railway, Beacon Hill, Boeing Field, and the Duwamish
River; but since the 1960s, when Interstate 5 was built, the community
has been effectively sliced in two by the horrendous on-ramp and
concrete overpass connecting to the freeway. Part 1 of the walking tour
features places of interest located north of the on-ramp; part 2 covers
the areas to the south. This photo album brings together both parts.
Most of my narrative for the photos is taken from the walking tour,
with comments added for places I included that are not featured in the
City's tour.
Direct link to Part
1 of the walking tour
Direct link to Part
2 of the walking tour
From the City's walking tour... Welcome
to Georgetown, Seattle s Oldest Neighborhood!
The Duwamish tribe were the first
inhabitants of the area, in a community they called Tu-kweltid-tid (by
the river bank). European settlers started arriving in 1850, and Luther
Collins filed the first claim in 1851. In 1871, Annie and Julius Horton
platted their land into a town, and named it for their son George, to
honor his graduation from medical school.
Repeated flooding of the river had
created immensely fertile soil, and immigrant farmers had great success
in this valley, selling their crops at Pike Place Market. Hops grew
particularly well, and in 1883 the five-acre Seattle Malting and
Brewing Company opened, to become the sixth largest brewery in the
world.
These were boom years for Georgetown,
and in 1904 the town incorporated and elected its first mayor. The
downtown area was abuzz with activity-- markets, liveries, pharmacies,
hotels, boxing rings, bakeries, saloons, a theater, and a mortuary
(whose undertaker sang tenor).
Georgetown's autonomy was
short-lived, however, and in 1910 it was annexed to Seattle. Shortly
thereafter the Duwamish River was straightened in order to create
cheap, accessible factory sites, and the valley became the focus of
Seattle's industrial expansion. In the ensuing years the city tried
repeatedly to rezone residential and commercial area as industrial
land, but met with outraged opposition. The city relented on the
rezoning, but dealt equally injurious blows to the neighborhood by
cutting through its heart with I-5's entrance and exit ramps, and by
allowing the airport to expand its operations.
Today, due to the ongoing efforts of
this close-knit community, Georgetown is recognized by city government
as a neighborhood anchor. Georgetowners are flourishing in their unique
neighborhood, and the area is once again abuzz with activity. Citizens
enjoy prize-winning gardens and regularly plant and tend street trees.
Artists studios and workshops hum. Years of meetings and residents
volunteerism are finding fruition in a restored city hall, a new park
(featuring a refurbished Hat n Boots), and an outdoor market.
So enjoy your visit to this special,
hardworking neighborhood.