Alki Point, Seattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alki
sbaqʷabqs
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Seattle Neighborhood
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Aerial view of Alki Point in Seattle. Elliott Bay and Downtown Seattle can be seen in the background.
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The Alki region of West Seattle
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King County, Washington |
Alki Point is a piece of land that sticks out into Puget Sound. It's the westernmost part of the West Seattle area in Seattle, Washington. The neighborhood around Alki Point is also called Alki. This area was the very first settlement that later grew into the city of Seattle. It was part of the city of West Seattle from 1902 until Seattle took it over in 1907.
The Alki neighborhood stretches along the shore from the point, going both southeast and northeast. To the northeast, it goes past Alki Beach towards Duwamish Head, which is the northernmost tip of West Seattle. Alki Point also marks the southern edge of Elliott Bay. A line drawn from Alki Point northwest to West Point shows where the bay ends and the sound begins.
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What Does Alki Mean?
The name "Alki" comes from a language called Chinook Jargon. It means "by and by" or "eventually." It's a shorter version of its first name, "New York Alki." The name "New York" might have been chosen because some of the first settlers came from New York state.
In the Lushootseed language, the name for this point is sbaqʷabqs. This means "prairie point." Other old English names for the point included Battery Point and Roberts Point.
History of Alki Point
Before American settlers arrived, the Duwamish people lived in this area. They used the nearby prairies for growing food and gathering plants. They kept these prairies open by burning them at certain times of the year.
The Denny Party was a group of settlers who landed at Alki Point on November 13, 1851. They planned a settlement with six blocks of land and called it "New York Alki." However, in April of the next year, Arthur A. Denny and most of the group moved. They found a better spot on the east side of Elliott Bay, which is now known as Pioneer Square.
Charles C. Terry, who owned the land at Alki, and a few others stayed for a while. But eventually, most of them joined the others in Pioneer Square. Terry later gave his land to David Swinson "Doc" Maynard in 1857. Maynard farmed the land for 11 years. Then, in 1868, he sold it to Hans Martin Hanson and Knud Olson. Hanson ended up owning the point itself.
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The Stockade Hotel was a famous building at Alki Point. Early Seattle photographers like Asahel Curtis and Theodore Peiser took pictures of it.
The Alki Point Lighthouse was built in 1913. It replaced an older light from 1887 and an even older lantern that Hanson had put up in the 1870s.
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From 1925 to 1936, a ferry boat connected Alki Point with Manchester, Washington across Puget Sound. For a long time, the only way to get to Alki from most of Seattle was by boat.
Today, Alki feels like a small beach town in the Pacific Northwest. It has old bungalows, modern apartment buildings, shops, a narrow beach, and a path for bikes and walkers. This path runs for several miles along the water. Alki is bordered by Elliott Bay to the northwest and Puget Sound to the southwest. Its main roads are Alki Avenue S.W. and Beach Drive S.W.
Summer concerts have been held at Alki Beach since the early 1900s. The first streetcars to West Seattle were built to bring people to these events. Today, Alki Beach hosts the Seattle Music Fest every August. This festival features local artists and some national and international performers.
The Birthplace of Seattle Monument is located at Alki Beach. It lists the names of the first settlers of Seattle. One side of the monument names the adults: "Arthur A. Denny and his Wife. John N. Low and Wife. Carson D. Boren and Wife. David D. Denny. Charles C. Terry." The base says "New York Alki (By and By)," which was the first name of the settlement. Another side says "Erected by the Washington University State Historical Society, 13 November 1905," and "Presented by Lenora Denny."
Alki's Unique Geology
Just inland from Alki Point is a small hill, about 75 feet (23 meters) tall. This hill is one of the few places in Seattle where you can see the natural rock layers. It's made of a type of rock called the Blakeley Formation, which is about 23 million years old. Scientists believe it might have once been a "sea stack," which is a tall rock column in the ocean. It's also possible it was always connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land called a tombolo.
Things to Do at Alki Point
Visiting Alki Beach
Alki Beach is the most popular spot at Alki Point. It has sand, saltwater, and local restaurants. The water in Puget Sound is usually too cold for swimming. From the beach, you can see the Olympic Mountains and downtown Seattle. There are paths for wheelchairs and roller-skaters. In the summer, Alki Beach gets very busy, especially on weekends. The biking and walking trail along the beach offers great views of nearby Blake Island.
Some cool things to see at Alki Beach include:
- A small copy of the Statue of Liberty.
- The famous Alki Point Lighthouse.
- The Birthplace of Seattle monument, which also honors the Indigenous Duwamish people.
Important Landmarks
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The Alki Point Lighthouse is a historic building from 1913 that still works today. You can sometimes tour the tower on summer weekend afternoons. Even when it's not open, it adds to the feeling of a real beach town.
The small copy of the Statue of Liberty at Alki Beach was given by Reginald H. Parsons and the Seattle Area Council of The Boy Scouts of America in 1952. This statue might be a nod to "New York-Alki," the original name of the settlement.
Music and Entertainment
Alki Beach has hosted summer concerts every August since the early 1900s. The local music scene brings in both tourists and people from Seattle. You can also find live music at Kenyon Hall, which has a special Wurlitzer theater organ. The Historic Admiral Theater also sometimes has live performances.
Historic Homes
Many old bungalows are found among newer buildings along Harbor Avenue. These historic homes, like the Hanson-Olsen Home built in the 1860s, show what homes looked like during the Arts and Crafts movement. This style was popular in American West cities in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Parks in Alki
Hamilton Viewpoint Park, started in 1954, offers amazing views of Elliott Bay. This park is located above Alki Beach on California Avenue SW. It has benches and grassy areas perfect for picnics. Inside the Alki neighborhood is Schmitz Park, which is the only old-growth forest left in Seattle. Other parks in the Alki area include Me-Kwa-Mooks, Constellation Park and Marine Reserve, Whale Tail Park, Alki Playground, and Bar-S Baseball Field. Alki Beach itself is also a city park.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of Alki Point in Seattle. Elliott Bay and Downtown Seattle can be seen in the background.
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The Alki region of West Seattle
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Alki marina waterfront with downtown Seattle in the background
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Theodore Peiser's photo of the Stockade Hotel on November 13, 1905
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Alki Point bathing beach, 1930, by Asahel Curtis
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Duwamish Head, at the eastern end of Alki Beach
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Alki Point, seen from Lincoln Park
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Alki Beach on a rainy day
See also
In Spanish: Punta Alki para niños
