Historic Seattle

Spring has sprung! That means two things here at Historic Seattle. One, our horticulture staff are busy. Really busy.


It’s impossible to imagine Historic Seattle’s landmarks—the Good Shepherd Center, the Garden House, and the Dearborn House—without the acres of publicly accessible grounds that surround them. Like these historic buildings, the grounds hold history and make space for community connection—and they need special care to flourish.

Two, it’s time for Washington’s annual GiveBIG day of giving. It’s a perfect match! Check the link in our Instagram bio to GiveBIG today!

This GiveBIG, we’re raising $10,000 to create a new garden at the Garden House and to provide special seasonal care for the gardens, grounds, and orchards surrounding all Historic Seattle properties.

Make your GiveBIG gift before midnight tonight and your donation will DOUBLE, up to $4,000, thanks to a special challenge from our staff and volunteers.

It’s worth remembering that when Historic Seattle purchased the Garden House at the end of 2022, the southwest corner of the grounds was densely overgrown with Himalayan blackberry and Italian arum, two invasive and aggressive weeds.

Beneath the weeds were giant concrete blocks partially buried in the ground. After 3 years of clearing and preparing the area, Historic Seattle’s horticulture team has begun to bring their vision for a new garden to life.

Your gift today will help complete the transformation of this once-unruly corner into a beautiful, welcoming space for visitors like you.

Together, we’ll create a new community space at the historic Garden House on Beacon Hill and ensure all Historic Seattle’s public gardens and grounds are at their seasonal best.

The City of Seattle recently issued a permit for partial demolition of historic features on the iconic towers at Gas Works Park, a designated Seattle landmark and National Register of Historic Places-listed public gathering place. The City fast-tracked permitting, making an end run around the Landmarks Preservation Board and the Certificate of Approval process for landmarks.

Is this Seattle’s own East Wing? How did this happen? Learn more in our piece on our website HERE: https://historicseattle.org/seattles-own-east-wing/

And if you care about what is happening at Gas Works Park, take action! City leaders need to hear from you, and they need to know it’s not OK to treat Gas Works Park and other public landmarks as disposable impediments. Details on whom to contact are near the end of our write-up. Make your voice heard today! Thank you!

Plan Set drawings credit: Seattle Parks and Recreation and OAI Architecture + Planning.

Contemporary photos by Eugenia Woo