Wasn’t it Chief Leschi’s campsite? Leschi Park in Seattle holds a fascinating history. It’s more than just a grassy hillside with tennis courts and a playground. This 18.5 acre park nestled in the Leschi neighborhood boasts a rich past. The Duwamish people called this area “Changes-Its-Face” believing a powerful horned snake lived here. Imagine the stories whispered around campfires under the ancient trees.
Before becoming a park Leschi Park served as an important stop for steamboats on Lake Washington from about 1890 to 1910. It even housed Seattle’s first zoo before it moved to Woodland Park in 1903. A cable car ran from Pioneer Square here until 1940. A cross-lake ferry connected Leschi Park to the Eastside before the Lacey V Murrow Memorial Bridge was built.
John Charles Olmsted’s 1903 report recognized the park’s location in a landslide prone area. He proposed a parkway along the hillside. His ambitious plan wasn’t fully realized but portions of this land became parkland. Leschi Park is part of the Olmsted Plan. It’s a blend of nature and urban development.
The park originally contained a dance pavilion a cable car terminus and ferry and steamboat terminal. A casino once stood on the southeast side of the park. It hosted vaudeville acts and concerts. Even Sarah Bernhardt performed here.
Today Leschi Park remains a beloved community space. It’s a place where history nature and recreation meet. It’s a testament to Seattle’s vibrant past and its enduring spirit. Its rolling hillsides offer stunning views. You can still see traces of its past if you know where to look. Leschi Park is a place to reflect and enjoy. It’s a living piece of Seattle’s story.