West Point (Seattle) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 
Approaching West Point along a path parallel to South Beach.
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| Location | Seattle, Washington, United States |
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| Geology | Point |
West Point (which is called paq̓ac̓aɬčuʔ in the Lushootseed language) is the westernmost tip of land in Seattle, Washington, United States. It sticks out into Puget Sound from the Magnolia neighborhood. This point also marks the northern edge of Elliott Bay. If you draw a line from West Point southeast to Alki Point, that line shows the western boundary of the bay.
Right at West Point, you'll find the West Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1881. It was the very first lighthouse on Puget Sound to have people living and working there. Just east of the point is the West Point Treatment Plant. Beyond that is Discovery Park, which used to be a U.S. Army base called Fort Lawton.
What Does West Point Mean?
The original name for West Point comes from the Lushootseed language. The word paq̓ac̓aɬčuʔ means "brush spread over water." This name describes how the land looked to the native peoples.
The English name "West Point" was given in 1841. It was named by U.S. Navy lieutenant Charles Wilkes. He was the leader of the United States Exploring Expedition.
Discovering Ancient History at West Point
In 1992, workers were expanding the sewage treatment plant at West Point. During this construction, they found some very old archaeological remains. These were traces of early Coast Salish peoples.
Among the discoveries were artifacts that are about 4,200 years old. This shows that people have lived in and used the West Point area for thousands of years.
See also
- West Point Lighthouse
- Discovery Park (Seattle)
In Spanish: West Point (Seattle) para niños
