Montlake, Seattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montlake, Seattle
|
|
|---|---|
|
Seattle Neighborhood
|
|
The Seattle Yacht Club in the Montlake neighborhood is on the National Register of Historic Places.
|
|
Montlake Highlighted in Pink
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| City | Seattle |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
98112
|
| Area Code | 206 |
Montlake is a lovely neighborhood in central Seattle, Washington. It's known for its beautiful homes and green spaces. The neighborhood is located next to the Montlake Cut. This is a special waterway that connects Lake Washington and Lake Union.
To the north, you'll find Portage Bay. The Washington Park Arboretum is to the east. Interlaken Park borders Montlake to the south and west. The University of Washington campus is just across the Montlake Cut. Even though people sometimes say "Montlake" when talking about University of Washington sports, the sports facilities are actually across the water from the neighborhood itself.
Contents
Exploring Montlake's Past
Montlake was mostly built up by John E. Boyer and Herbert Turner. This happened between 1903 and the early 1930s. A big change came in 1916. The Montlake Cut, also called the New Portage Canal, opened. This waterway set the northern edge of the neighborhood. Later, in 1925, the Montlake Bridge was built. It's a unique bridge that crosses the Montlake Cut.
The Famous Montlake Spite House
In 1925, a funny story happened in Montlake. A neighbor offered a very low price for a small piece of land. The builder was upset by the offer. So, he built a house that blocked the neighbor's view and open space. This house is only about 1.4 meters (55 inches) wide at one end! It's called the Montlake Spite House. It's still standing today and people live in it!
Community Action in Montlake
The Montlake Community Club is a group of local residents. They have a long history of working together for their neighborhood. In the past, they tried to stop a big highway, State Route 520, from being built. This highway was planned to go through the northern part of Montlake and the arboretum. Even though they tried hard, the highway opened in 1963.
The community club also worked to stop another big road project. This was the R.H. Thomson Expressway in the 1960s. This freeway would have cut through many neighborhoods, including Montlake. It would have also taken part of the Arboretum. Thanks to the community's efforts, the project was stopped.
Today, people in Montlake still talk with city leaders. They discuss plans for improving SR 520 and other local roads. A group called Better Bridge has suggested expanding SR 520. They also want to build a "lid" over the freeway. This lid would help connect parts of the neighborhood that were separated by the road.
What Makes Montlake Special?
Montlake has several main roads. These include Boyer Avenue E., 24th Avenue E., and Lake Washington and Montlake Boulevards E.
Shops and Places to Eat
Montlake has a small area with shops and restaurants on 24th Avenue East. You can find Cafe Lago, an Italian restaurant, and Montlake Alehouse, a local pub. There's also Mr. Johnson's Antiques and a Seattle Public Library branch.
Homes and Buildings
Most of the houses in Montlake are single-family homes. Many were built in the early 1900s. They often have styles like American Craftsman bungalow or Tudor. You can also see older Seattle-style homes made of brick and wood.
The Greek Orthodox St. Demetrios is the only church in Montlake. It was built in 1963.
Montlake is also home to some important organizations. The Seattle Yacht Club has been there since 1920. The Northwest Fisheries Science Center, which is part of the National Marine Fisheries Service, opened in 1931.
