Over 40000 souls rest here. Welcome to Lake View Cemetery. Established in 1872 as the Seattle Masonic Cemetery it later adopted its evocative name. Lake View Cemetery boasts stunning views of Lake Washington. This isn’t just any cemetery. It’s Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery a place where history breathes.
Lake View Cemetery holds the remains of Seattle’s founding fathers and mothers. Arthur Denny a key member of the Denny Party is buried here. So is Henry Yesler Seattle’s first millionaire and economic father. Princess Angeline daughter of Chief Seattle also rests here. Her grave is a poignant reminder of the city’s indigenous heritage.
But Lake View Cemetery is more than just pioneers. It’s a final resting place for celebrities. Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee are buried here. Their gravesites are popular tourist attractions visited by thousands each year. The cemetery’s popularity even prevented Kurt Cobain from being buried here. The sheer number of visitors to the Lees graves was considered excessive.
Beyond the famous Lake View Cemetery holds many untold stories. Consider Beriah Brown a former mayor of Seattle. Or Libbie Beach Brown a philanthropist and temperance activist. These individuals shaped Seattle’s past. Their contributions deserve remembrance.
There’s a Nisei War Memorial Monument. It commemorates 47 Japanese American soldiers from Seattle who died in World War II. Later nine more names were added. This memorial stands as a testament to sacrifice.
A Confederate veterans memorial once stood here. Erected in 1926 it was near the graves of 11 Confederate soldiers. The only such burial ground in the Northwest. It was toppled during the 2020 George Floyd protests.
Lake View Cemetery is a place of reflection. A place where Seattle’s past and present intertwine. Take your time to explore. Remember the lives lived and the legacies left behind. Lake View Cemetery is more than a cemetery it is a living testament to Seattle itself.