The Alki History Project is driven by the idea that the better we understand our history the better we understand our future choices.  Alki is an example of how land resources and land use of yesterday can influence tomorrow’s uses.  It is also an example of how wealth can be used to create or squander opportunities.   We are all stewards of the future, whether or not we recognize it today. 

The Alki History Project began, in May 2016, with a few simple questions of a new Alki resident:

• Who lived on the land where my townhouse now sits,
• What is this “oldest house” that I keep hearing about,
• How did the Alki land use pattern come to be and why is the commercial strip like it is today,
• There’s a monument to those who moved here in 1851, but what about the Native Americans who moved here 15,000 years ago,
• The street car line; where was it, who took it away and why is today’s Alki public transit such a poor service,
• Is Stevens Street named after Isaac Stevens?

The simplicity of the questions defies the complexity of the answers and begets even more questions.  Getting to the answers and an understanding of how these answers should be applied to other circumstances is the Alki History Project objective.  To learn more about the project click here.

The assembly of an Alki history has just begun.  Please see our Introduction and Overview or Presentations and Research Articles page.  The Project hopes to uncover and display that history on this website.  As the assembly continues there will be twists and turns and changed understandings and interpretations.  All history is uncertain.  As new facts are uncovered, new insights emerge.  Absolutes elude for past absolutes never existed.

Your feedback, questions and contributions are important.  Please use our Contact page to offer suggestions, insights, criticisms (good or bad), corrections or revisions.  Praise make us feel better.  Slams make us want to do better.  Your assistance in building the Project’s knowledgebase is wanted.  Please see our How You Can Help page.

Alki History Project
Phillip H. Hoffman, Director
3020 — 64th Avenue SW, #A
Seattle, Washington 98116
USA
Email