West Seattle, Washington
29 Tuesday
A solemn commemoration in West Seattle today marked half a century since a difficult day in history.
This week will bring the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Today’s attendees and participants at the Vietnamese Cultural Center included South Vietnamese and U.S. military veterans.
Speakers talked about the “complicated” and painful feelings stirred by the anniversary.
The ceremony also included a chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders, who stood with flags throughout the program. The focus was on honoring fallen soldiers. Incense and food offerings were made. Attendees chanted “long live the Republic of Vietnam” and “Down with communism” in both Vietnamese and English.
One speaker who had served in the U.S. military during the war, 81-year-old U.S. Navy veteran Samuel Perkins, offered words in honor of the thousands of refugees rescued from Saigon who came to the U.S. and have worked hard for decades. “You came here with nothing and now you are more than great,” he said. (You can read some of the history of Southeast Asian refugees settling in our state after the war by going here.)
The Vietnamese Cultural Center is at 2236 SW Orchard, usually open to the public on Saturday afternoons. They also welcome community members during multiple cultural events each year, such as Vietnamese New Year and the Children’s Moonlight Festival.k
(WSB photos by Oliver Hamlin)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
At a time when federal support for cultural institutions is being downsized dramatically, events like the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s spring fundraising gala this past Friday matter more than ever.
Newly promoted executive director Elizabeth Rudrud – SWSHS’s lone paid staffer – addressed the situation in her speech during the event at Salty’s on Alki: “Our theme tonight is ‘storytellers,’ so I am starting with my favorite quote from the novelist and essayist James Baldwin. He wrote: ‘American History is longer, larger, more beautiful and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.’ History is written by many voices. Yet we acknowledge the renewed efforts by some to erase important stories of our past. I want you to know two things. First, this is an unoriginal idea. And second, it doesn’t work. By being here tonight, you are reaffirming the power of storytelling.” We started recording her speech just as that opening was ending:
(WSB video – apologies for the shadow problem)
Rudrud spoke of the SWSHS’s partners. One of them was represented by a guest speaker, Humanities Washington CEO Julie Ziegler, told the stark tale of getting word that the federal government was canceling almost $10 million in vital funding that already had been allocated to our state by Congress:
As Ziegler said, supporters can do more than donate to try to help – they need to “speak up,” she urged, and tell Congress to ensure that the money (which she said is reportedly being diverted to a presidentially decreed “Garden of Heroes”) goes to where it was promised.
The gala showcased some of what SWSHS’s supporters make possible – including projects working with youth. Melissa Bacon spoke about the High Point Video Club – working with East African teens, many of whom are Chief Sealth International High School students, recording oral histories of High Point residents.
They’re hoping to collect 30 of those histories over the next two years. Gala attendees also heard firsthand from one young historian, Pedro – an intern at the <strong>Log House Museum, where the historical society is headquartered – who’s working on a different history project – the history of Seattle teriyaki!
His interviewees so far have included the man basically credited with inventing Seattle teriyaki almost half a century ago, Toshi Kasahara.
And gala-goers also got intel about what’s expected to be a transformative future museum exhibit (with funding from Maritime Washington National Heritage Area), from its designer Chris Fiala Erlich:
The highlight of the evening was toward the end, when five unique experiences were auctioned off, with energy and humor provided by auctioneers and longtime SWSHS supporters Clay Eals (a former executive director of the organization) (below center) and Mike Shaughnessy:
Eals noted that he was most heartened to see the room filled with new faces as well as familiar ones.
The highest winning bid was $3,000 for the opportunity to make your own Husky Deli ice-cream flavor and then invite a crowd to the deli afterhours for a party to enjoy it. Husky proprietor Jack Miller himself was there to talk more about it and to recount some Husky history.
Another of the experiences auctioned at the gala was a guided West Duwamish Greenbelt tour with Chief Sealth descendant Ken Workman, who has served both on the Duwamish Tribe council and the SWSHS board
He had welcomed the crowd early in the evening:
The walking tour went for $1,000, which also was the winning bid for a “speakeasy pizza party” at a secret West Seattle location. Legendary nature photographer Art Wolfe donated a tour of his almost-as-legendary West Seattle garden; that went for $1,300. And historian Peder Nelson will lead a West Seattle music tour for a $700 bidder (an extra-special deal because a $75 Easy Street Records gift card is part of it). Speaking of music, West Seattle’s own The Potholes provided the evening’s soundtrack:
The gala concluded with a paddleless version of fundraisers’ traditional “raise the paddle” invitation for attendees to commit to additional donations. As co-auctioneer Shaughnessy had suggested before the auction, “this is the time to double down to keep the Historical Society and Log House Museum open.” If you weren’t at the event but would like to offer support, you’ll find a link here.
You can also learn more about SWSHS and the museum – a historic building in its own right – by visiting noon-4 pm Fridays and Saturdays (61st/Stevens), and/or signing up for one of the popular Alki walking tours they’re offering again this spring/summer.
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society launched its online auction today, and you don’t have to have a ticket for Friday’s gala to bid in this! Though the in-person auction will have some unique items/experiences, you’ll find cool stuff up for online bidding right now – here’s the announcement:
Bid to support local history! The Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s online auction is open now through Thursday, April 10.
The annual online auction is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year and brings in critical revenue for the historical society and museum to provide free museum admission and free public programming year round.
This year’s auction features vacations and staycations (once again you can bid on a three-day stay at the Lodge at Erik’s Ranch and Retreats outside Yellowstone National Park in Paradise Valley, a nonprofit vacation rental that provides employment opportunities for adults with autism living in rural areas, gift cards to local services and businesses, local art, and one-of-a-kind West Seattle experiences including coffee with local historians, guided tours of Schmitz Preserve Park, season tickets to WS Football Clubs, dinner for two at Il Nido, and much, much more.
This year’s live auction, held during Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s annual Spring Gala, includes priceless experiences. Select items only available in person include creating your own Husky Deli Ice Cream flavor; a private guided tour of the West Duwamish Greenbelt with Ken Workman, descendant of Chief Sealth; a private music tour of West Seattle music history (in a classic car); a private speakeasy/karaoke/pizza party; and a private wine tasting for six at photographer and conservationist Art Wolfe’s private garden.
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society owns and operates the Log House Museum at Alki Beach, cares for a unique collection of artifacts, provides free museum admission and public programming (like Alki History Walking Tours and Words, Writers, Southwest Stories), and relies on grants and contributions to keep its doors open. This year, the historical society is raising funds for its multi-year interpretive planning initiative supported by Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, which will result in a permanent, interactive exhibition that will transform how people experience the Log House Museum.
Organizations like the historical society are also reliant on support from partners like Humanities Washington, and others, who are experiencing direct cuts in federal funding and uncertain futures. Humanities Washington supports the historical society’s long running speaker series and allows the organization to bring in speakers on diverse topics, including last month’s talk on Black Women Civil Rights Workers in Washington State.
Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s annual Spring Gala will be held at Salty’s on Alki next Friday, April 11 from 6-8:30 pm. The event will also feature music from local band The Potholes, delicious food from Salty’s, and dessert from Bakery Nouveau.
Special guests include exhibit designer and contractor Chris Fiala Erlich, partners at Seattle Housing Authority whose youth Video Club is helping the historical society capture oral histories of High Point, and a high school intern who is researching Seattle Teriyaki for an upcoming pop-up exhibit at the museum.
The online auction closes at 8 pm on Thursday, April 10. Information and registration for both events is at loghousemuseum.org
WSB is media sponsor for this year’s auction.
Twice a month for the next six months, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is bringing back its popular walking tour of Alki. Twelve tours might sound like a lot, but they filled up fast last year, so the SWSHS wants you to know that registration is open now:
Our popular Alki History Walking Tours return this Spring.
Learn about the history of Alki Beach, the peoples who have lived here and how settlement by various groups and individuals has left its mark on Alki. Visit historic and cultural sites in the area and discuss how our understanding of the area and its people continues to evolve.
Tours include stops at the Log House Museum, Fir Lodge/Alki Homestead, historic sites and monuments at Alki Beach, and Doc Maynard’s home in West Seattle.
Tours are offered rain or shine and include about one mile of walking with multiple stops. The tour is ADA accessible although there are no stops that include seating.
To register for a walking tour, please click on the date you would like to join us (find the dates listed and linked here).
This program is FREE although registration required. Suggested donation $15.
All tours begin at 11 am at the Log House Museum at 3003 61st Ave SW.
Two weeks from tonight, “STORY TELLERS: A PENINSULA AND ITS PEOPLE” is the theme of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s gala dinner/auction. WSB is media sponsor, and we’re reminding you this morning so you don’t miss your chance to attend! Join SWSHS supporters at 6 pm Friday, April 11, at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW):
Enjoy live music from local West Seattle band The Potholes, delicious food, and a cash bar. Meet and mingle with neighbors, supporters, history makers, and those who collect and uplift the stories of the Duwamish Peninsula.
Story Tellers: A Peninsula and its People celebrates the historical society’s vision for our ongoing interpretive planning and upcoming exhibition overhaul that will transform how people experience the Log House Museum. Celebrate with us as we announce details of a permanent, interactive exhibition planned for 2026 that connects the stories we tell to our visitors’ waterfront experience, highlights stories of diverse placemaking across the Duwamish Peninsula, and encourages visitors to explore regional heritage sites.
Special guests include exhibit designer and contractor Chris Fiala Erlich and our partners at Seattle Housing Authority, whose youth Video Club is helping our historical society capture stories of High Point.
If you can’t go, you will still be able to join in the SWSHS online auction one week in advance – but some special items and experiences will only be available at the gala. P.S. The Log House Museum, at 61st/Stevens, is open Fridays and Saturdays, noon-4 pm.
Two events ahead for the Southwest Seattle Historiical Society!
WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: The monthly online presentation is this Thursday (March 13) at 6 pm, focusing on “Black Women in the Washington Civil Rights Movement.” History professor Quin’Nita Cobbins-Modica is the speaker. From the preview in our calendar listing:
In the 1960s, Freddie Mae Gautier wrote to Martin Luther King Jr., urging him to come to Seattle. The Pacific Northwest, she said, has many of the same problems as the South—but people here could be complacent.
Gautier’s letter confronts the dominant narrative that Washington State is an “exceptional” place rather than a microcosm of the larger U.S. society. How does her story, and the story of other Black women, challenge this understanding?
To register for the link, go here.
“STORY TELLERS: A PENINSULA AND ITS PEOPLE”: That’s the theme of the SWSHS gala dinner/auction this year, and it’s now exactly one month away. You are invited to join SWSHS supporters at 6 pm Friday, April 11, at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW). WSB is media sponsor for the gala – here’s the SWSHS invitation:
Story Tellers: A Peninsula and its People celebrates the historical society’s vision for our ongoing interpretive planning and upcoming exhibition overhaul that will transform how people experience the Log House Museum. Celebrate with us as we announce details of a permanent, interactive exhibition planned for 2026 that connects the stories we tell to our visitor’s waterfront experience, highlights stories of diverse placemaking across the Duwamish Peninsula, and encourages visitors to explore regional heritage sites.
Special guests include exhibit designer and contractor, Chris Fiala Erlich, and our partners at Seattle Housing Authority, whose youth Video Club is helping our historical society capture stories of High Point.
Watch for the SWSHS online auction one week before the event – everyone will be able to bid, though keep in mind some special items and experiences will only be available at the gala.
(WSB file photo)
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum – home to West Seattle history – has a special event for educators in its future:
Area educators are invited to join the Southwest Seattle Historical Society at the Log House Museum on Thursday, February 27 from 4-5:30 pm.
Learn about our organization and participate in themed activities we are developing to engage your students on field trips to the museum. Light refreshments provided.
The Log House Museum, a City of Seattle Historic Landmark, is located at 3003 61st Ave. SW, one block from Alki Beach. We are located along Metro Line #50. Street parking only.
Wednesday (February 19) is the Day of Remembrance, the 83rd anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt‘s order that led to the incarceration of about 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry, as explained here. Again this year, South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is hosting a community commemoration, and sent this invitation:
Day of Remembrance for Japanese American Incarceration: Healing through Art, Music, and Storytelling
Please join us virtually or in person at South Seattle College (SSC) on February 19 for our event commemorating Day of Remembrance for Japanese American Incarceration. SSC Music Faculty Mako Kikuchi will speak about his family’s experience of forced removal and incarceration during WWII and will perform excerpts from his forthcoming EP In Shadows alongside sanshin player and vocalist Mako Willett. Dee Goto, Joe Abo, and Mary Abo, members of the Omoide Project, will be in conversation with Kikuchi to discuss the importance of storytelling to heal from trauma and ensure that history does not repeat.
Refreshments will be provided after the program.
Attendees who would like to attend virtually can register for and access the event using this link: zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_G-bw_hEATuSvWS49kCO0xg.
We look forward to gathering and sharing stories with you all! Please reach out to ma**********@*************es.edu with any questions about the event. Sponsored by the Kip Tokuda Civil Liberties Program, 4Culture, South Seattle College ACO, and AANAPISI.
Featuring live performances and conversations with:
Mako Kikuchi, South Seattle Music Faculty
Mako Willett, Sanshin Player and Vocalist
The Omoide Project, Japanese American Writing GroupDATE: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
TIME: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
LOCATION: South Seattle College, 6000 16th Ave SW, West Seattle / Olympic Hall, Room 120 – South Seattle College Campus (“OLY” on the campus map)
(Photo courtesy Admiral Neighborhood Association)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More than a year after we first took you to the Washington State Black Legacy Institute, the new mission of an ex-church/event venue in Admiral, it is opening its doors more widely to the community.
A celebration today at the city-landmarked building at 2656 42nd SW, recently purchased to firm up its future, featured words of both promise and defiance – a declaration that the WSBLI mission will not be derailed or detoured by the national political attack on diversity and equity. “We have to continue to tell our story and what we’ve been able to overcome,” declared WSBLI president/CEO Kateesha Atterberry, founder of real-estate/development firm Urban Black, which partnered with WSBLI for the building purchase. Here’s what she told those gathered this morning, starting with words of welcome:
Even stronger words were delivered by the next speaker, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka.
(WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)
Before presenting Atterberry with a proclamation that today is Washington State Black Legacy Institute Day in Seattle, he decided to “go off script for a moment” and decry “efforts to politicize things that should not be political,” elaborating that he was defending diversity/equity/inclusion. “In Seattle, we will continue to celebrate DEI.” Here’s what he said, including excerpts from the proclamation:
You might have noticed the speakers standing under umbrellas in front of the WSBLI building. Throughout the speeches, icy rain continued to pick up intensity, and that led Roger Evans, executive vice president for heritage and preservation, to keep his remarks short, explaining the exhibit as celebrating “greatness that has always bee here but was never told to the masses”:
Dr. Jacqualine Boles sang next – and during her gospel performance, the heavens opened up and a heavy hail shower poured down, moving the celebration into the WSBLI foyer, where the ceremonial ribbon was cut, before guests moved into the larger inside room for brunch. The foyer is where portraits and other permanent displays can be seen:
(WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)
The art exhibit that went on public display today is in the WSBLI basement, while other rooms in the building are devoted to work such as preservation and digitization. The plan is to have the building open most days this month (we’re checking on the hours); other events being planned include a Juneteenth film festival.
If you thought you had missed the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s January “Words, Writers, Southwest Stories” earlier this month, good news, you have another chance. The January 9 presentation of “Stomp and Shout: The Untold Story of Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll” – which we had originally previewed here – had to be rescheduled due to technical difficulties. So SWSHS is going to try the online presentation with author Peter Blecha again this Thursday (January 30), 6 pm. If you don’t already have the viewing link, you can register for it here. The presentation is free, but a $5 donation to SWSHS would be welcomed.
Providence Mount St. Vincent, “The Mount,” has just wrapped up its centennial celebration by closing its new time capsule (which we previously mentioned during the holidays).
(Photos courtesy Providence Mount St. Vincent)
The Mount’s announcement notes:
In April The Mount opened its original time capsule that contained artifacts, photos, and newspaper articles about the founding of The Mount and the role the Sisters of Providence played in envisioning, building and operating the expansive campus on 9 acres here in West Seattle.
To honor the marking of this remarkable milestone, The Mount concluded its celebrations today with a symbolic act that bridges the past, present, and future: the sealing of a new time capsule.
It contains items highlighting “milestones including implementing an intergenerational learning center in 1991, expansion of a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center in 2002 along with many grateful family and donor letters regarding the importance of continuing the work and mission of The Mount. Several media stories capturing achievements and cherished memories were included along with tangible items highlighting the spirit of The Mount — such as a caregiver Heart of Gold recognition pin and a Passport to Engagement educational program. Given the significance of navigating the pandemic years for a vulnerable population, a COVID test kit was also placed inside.”
According to The Mount (which is a WSB sponsor), “The new time capsule pictured here was thoughtfully and generously crafted by West Seattle neighbors Nucor Steel Seattle – whose founder of the original plant, William Pigott, also served as a leader to develop the funding to build the original Providence Mount St. Vincent. Celebrating this shared heritage today were (photo above) Nucor team members Nathan Marshall and Richard Christ along with Mount Operations Director Albert Angkico.” Many Mount leaders and Sisters of Providence attended the ceremony along with other Nucor leaders.
A local Scout troop is celebrating more than a century of history – 110 years, to be exact – and you’re invited to the party. Troop 284 is celebrating its 110th anniversary on February 8, with an event at Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Walmesley Center (35th/Myrtle):
COME JOIN US TO CELEBRATE 110 YEARS OF SERVICE TO WEST SEATTLE!
Doors will open at 5:00 pm, dinner will be served at 6:00 pm. We will have a program featuring Troop 284 alumni over the years. We hope you can join us to celebrate this historic troop.
You can buy your ticket(s) now by going here – $65/person, $500 for a table of eight. Questions? bs********************@***il.com
Second Thursday means the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s monthly online speaker series, Words, Writers, Southwest Stories. This month = 6 pm this Thursday (January 9) – “The Untold Story of Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll” is the topic, and there’s still time to sign up to watch. First, if you haven’t seen it in the calendar already, here’s the announcement:
Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll’s historical high points are well documented — in the late 20th century, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and other grunge gods took the world by storm. Previously, Seattle’s Queensrÿche and Heart had ruled the heavy metal realm. And prior to that, The Wailers, The Kingsmen, Paul Revere and The Raiders, and The Sonics had all fueled local teen dances with garage-rock versions of the region’s signature song, “Louie Louie.”
Yet these iconic bands are only half the story. In this talk, join author Peter Blecha to discover the lesser-known but vitally important bands and scenes that laid the foundation for what was to come—finally connecting all the dots between the fabled Northwest era of Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, and Jimi Hendrix, and the R&B-spiked roots of a distinct regional artform: the “Original Northwest Sound.”
Peter Blecha (he/him) is the director of the Northwest Music Archives, an award-winning author, a founding curator at MoPop, and a longtime staff historian at HistoryLink.org. Blecha’s newest book, Stomp and Shout: R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock and Roll, draws on his deep knowledge as a leading expert on Pacific Northwest music history to chronicle both well-known and overlooked icons of the early Northwest Sound. Blecha lives in Seattle.
Go here to register to get the viewing link.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More than a year after we first told you about the Washington State Black Legacy Institute moving into the city-landmark former church/events venue at 2656 42nd SW, they’ve bought the building and are ramping up its public accessibility.
They’re planning a February 1st ribboncutting to launch the Institute’s next big event – an art exhibit for Black History Month.
First, about the purchase: On behalf of WSBLI, Urban Black Community Development bought the property from 20+-year owner Dahli Strayer a little over a month ago, for $2.75 million. Strayer had bought it in 2003, not long after its remaining Christian Science congregation merged with others in the area; in 2009, it became a city landmark, and it was operated as an event venue for some years after that.
“We have an interesting symbiosis (with the purchasing entity),” explains WSBLI curator Roger Evans. “The Seattle Griot Project is reimbursing them as a joint partner – we have a mortgage,” which he says WSBLI hopes to pay off within a year, if fundraising goes well.
On the front burner, though, “lots of programming” – starting in earnest with next month’s art exhibit, in the building’s basement.
The displays will include historical portraits and other artifacts from other history-focused groups and organizations, highlighting regional figures from music, churches, even the Black Masonic Order. Along with the exhibit at the WSBLI’s Admiral building, they also will have an exhibit on the road.
Preparing for this, WSBLI has new assistance from a group of interns who’ve been working there for more than two months, working on digitizing many of the historical materials so they’ll be available beyond in-person viewin. Education overall is a major mission of the institute, says Evans, who notes they’re doing a lot of virtual-reality work so that people can experience interviews “like you’re sitting right there with people – an eyewitness, not just watching video – you learn something new when you’re tuned into body language,” for example. VR assistance includes a Tacoma-based organization called Black Muse that’s provided some of the interns working at WSBLI. In addition to digitizing, they’re also “helping me streamline how folks engage with the headsets, how we can make these interfaces work better.”
That’s all going on behind the scenes. Otherwise, Evans says, they’ve received a warm welcome from the neighborhood – “lots of people come by to (offer) support.” Up until now, they’ve been open “basically by appointment,” but the February art exhibit will be the first time they’ve been open regular hours “so that people can be in the space” with staffing. Support from 4Culture and the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture is assisting with this. You might recall WSBLI also had a major event a year ago, the Business Festival During Kwanzaa.
Black business history comprises a lot of the material with which WSBLI is working, but not all. Evans says that in addition to the Tacoma directory he told us about last year, they’ve found others from the early 20th century, from California and Texas. Delilah Beasley chronicled much of the history. Evans recounts a 1919 book in which she “talks about Black Americans who served in the Spanish-American War … during this framework in time, Black communities were trying to create some kind of historic structure, to preserve history …” So they’ve found “great representations of what was going on during the early 1900s – we’re finding consistencies that give us an idea there was a sophistication when people establish community – once people create a community they establish a church and then a Masonic Order for business sense and some camaraderie among the men.” That was the case with a historical figure spotlighted at WSBLI, James Sheppardson, who “brought miners into Roslyn (WA), then with those 50 minors established Masons. Then William Grose came into Seattle, (and) established the Masons three years later – they had a lodge in Seattle and started to create the structure for the communities.”
Speaking of structure, WSBLI is part of a “three-tier alliance” with organizations tied to Kitsap and Pierce Counties: “We’re going to assist them in digitizing their collections too,” and they’re loaning archival materials to WSBLI.
The institute, meantime, continues working on its collection of banners telling historical figures’ stories – “we’re building toward having 21 of them; we have 15 now.” They plan to take some of these materials to schools this year. The digitizing and VR work feeds into that as well: “We’re taking it really seriously,” Evans stresses. “In February, we’ll have a prototype of our VR presentation,” a 360-degree view where you could read old books or watch old videos – “a memory attic,” for memories already collected as part of The Griot Project. “The fourth component will be a game, tentatively A Visit to Mama B’s, where an AI-influenced avatar will talk about … stuff that’ll be historically relevant to our community. … I want this thing to be not limited so much to the building – we’re open to share with the whole planet as much as possible.” He muses that “although (the new headquarters) is an old building,” they’ll be showcasing historical materials in “the most advanced ways.”
That “old building” does need some updates for which they’ll be fundraising too, Evans notes: a new roof, interior accessibility (the ex-church has rooms on multiple levels requiring stepping up and stepping down), landscape tidying, and a security system. “Our primary mission is to be part of the community and contribute something to the community, maybe even to the whole Northwest … we’re figuring out what’s going to work for us,” and that, he believes, will help them in grant-writing, as they explain their mission – “not stuffy,” he smiles.
In addition to the February art for Black History Month, WSBLI is planning a film festival for Juneteenth. “We haven’t figured out yet what it’s going to look like … We’re trying different things and they’re blessing us, which gives us opportunities to have the young people come into the space. A lot of them are supercharged, because they never heard of the (history), until now.”
They plan to have the building open six days a week starting with the art exhibit’s opening day. Here’s the formal announcement of the event that will kick it off:
The Washington State Black Legacy Institute (WSBLI) proudly announces the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Black History Art Exhibition and Business Festival, a day-long celebration of culture, creativity, and community empowerment. The event will occur on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Washington State Black Legacy Institute, 2656 42nd Ave SW, and is open to the public.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Black History Art Exhibition and Business Festival is more than an event — it’s a celebration of the past, present, and future. The new WSBLI space symbolizes a commitment to cultural preservation, community empowerment, and economic development. By joining us, attendees can take part in meaningful conversations, celebrate Black excellence, and contribute to a shared vision for a thriving and inclusive future.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: This momentous occasion marks the grand opening of WSBLI’s new space, designed to serve as a community hub for fostering education, dialogue, and inclusivity. Local dignitaries and WSBLI leadership will be present to commemorate the opening.
Black History Art Exhibition: Immerse yourself in the stories of resilience, heritage, and innovation as told through the works of talented Black artists. This curated exhibition promises to inspire and educate attendees of all ages.
Meet & Greet: Connect with local community leaders and members, explore a vibrant marketplace, and participate in interactive workshops. This festival is an excellent opportunity to support entrepreneurs and discover valuable community resources.
The event is planned for 11 am-2:30 pm on Saturday, February 1.
Every year, this is the one and only “year in review” story we publish – the 10 WSB stories that got the most comments during the year. It doesn’t mean they were the most important, or most read, stories, but the comment totals are a clearly quantifiable component in our publishing system. Last year was unique, with half of the top 10 relating to one ongoing controversy – the eventually scrapped plan to convert former tennis courts in Lincoln Park to pickleball courts. This year, though, the top 10 includes one story related to that controversy, two related to another controversy, and seven others about other unique situations.
#10 – TWO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL-CLOSURE LISTS UNVEILED
September 11, 2024 – 151 comments
Seattle Public Schools‘ short-lived plan to close schools went through multiple iterations. This one offered two alternative lists. Two West Seattle schools wo schools, Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and Sanislo Elementary, were on both potential lists.
#9 – WILDLIFE ADVOCATES UPSET WITH ALKI POINT HEALTHY STREET PARKING REMOVAL
February 29, 2024 – 153 comments
As the long original headline for this story noted, SDOT originally said Healthy Streets wouldn’t involve parking removal. The Alki Point Healthy Street did, and local wildlife organizations said that would impede their work and general public access to see and appreciate wildlife.
#8 – CANTANNA FEST COMING TO LINCOLN PARK
July 25, 2024 – 156 comments
We learned a music-and-marijuana-appreciation festival had gotten the OK from Seattle Parks to bring thousands to Lincoln Park. The plan didn’t last long, and the festival eventually ended up at a farm in Pierce County.
#7 – MOLLY MOON’S ICE CREAM ON THE WAY TO WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION
April 5, 2024 – 167 comments
A banner in a Junction window revealed the ice-cream mini-chain was headed this way. Since then, it’s switched planned West Seattle locations, and will open in the ex-Cupcake Royale.
#6 – WOMAN SHOT AND KILLED SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION
October 1, 2024 – 174 comments
Though the shooting death of Dr. Tammy Towers at her home south of The Junction was ruled homicide, no criminal charges have ever been announced.
#5 – ALKI POINT HEALTHY STREET OPPONENTS ANNOUNCE COMMUNITY MEETING
May 13, 2024 – 180 comments
This story, like #9, stemmed from local wildlife advocates trying to convince SDOT not to remove parking as part of the Alki Point Healthy Street project.
#4 – LINCOLN PARK PICKLEBALL OPPONENTS SAY CITY HAS OFFICIALLY SCRAPPED PLAN
May 24, 2024 – 195 comments
Last year’s big controversy didn’t come to an official end until this spring.
#3 – POWER OUTAGES FOR 13,000+
November 19, 2024 – 208 comments
It’s not a most-commented list without a power outage and many readers weighing in on whether they’re out or not. This outage drew more comments than usual because Seattle City Light‘s info map was malfunctioning.
#2 – ABOUT THE TRUMP-MERCH TENT IN THE TRIANGLE
February 19, 2024 – 236 comments
Nine lines about a traveling vendor churned up a lot of discussion, almost nine months before the presidential election
#1 – ANNOUNCING A DEATH IN THE WSB FAMILY
October 18, 2024 – 669 comments
17 years after co-founding WSB, Patrick Sand died suddenly, without warning, at home the morning of October 17. We miss him every minute of every day. The work to which he was devoted – thoroughly, accurately, ethically, cheerily covering West Seattle news and events – goes on, led by co-founder Tracy Record, with new collaborators. We will talk with you more in the New Year about the state and future of WSB. For now, we want to thank everyone for the condolences, well-wishes, and support, and the many people who have taught us things we didn’t know about Patrick, by recounting what he meant to them and how they’d interacted. Thank you all so much, and we treasure your continued partnership in community-collaborative news, which we continue to cover 24/7.
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The past and the future are in view today as our West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights on local nonprofits continue. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, about some of our area’s hardworking nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Today – you’ll see why the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Log House Museum aren’t just looking back:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society promotes inclusive, local history through education, preservation, and advocacy. The organization owns and operates the Log House Museum, a City of Seattle Historic Landmark, located one block from Alki Beach, known to Coast Salish people as sbaqʷabqs, or Prairie Point.
SWSHS has big plans for 2025 and beyond, including a major overhaul of the Log House Museum’s exhibitions. Keep an eye out for exciting developments on this project in 2025 and donate today to help advance SWSHS’s vision to transform how visitors experience the Log House Museum.
Today, SWSHS welcomes museum visitors to the Log House Museum (its current exhibition, Seattle’s Forest: The West Duwamish Greenbelt, highlights the geologic, indigenous, and political history of the city’s largest contiguous forest), provides tours to hundreds of local students a year, and hosts public programming, like Alki History Walking Tours
The SWSHS also presents Words, Writers, Southwest Stories, a popular monthly speaker series. (A recent program featured artist and author Bradi Jones and music historian Peder Nelson to discuss Jones’s grunge-era coloring book and the intersection of art and music in Seattle’s grunge scene.
Next month’s program features David Peterson, a historic resource consultant, who will discuss the landmarking of West Seattle’s Cettolin House, which was recently in the path of the West Seattle light rail extension plan. Information and registration at our website.
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society also cares for a Native Plant Garden as well as a unique collection of more than 10,000 artifacts, many of which are now viewable online or at the Log House Museum, including the original Alki Beach Lady Liberty and a fragment of the original West Seattle Bridge, permanently closed after the freighter Antonio Chavez, piloted by the infamous Rolf Neslund, collided with the bridge in 1978.
This year, SWSHS began a multi-year interpretive planning project supported by an inaugural and competitive grant from the newly established Maritime Washington National Heritage Area. The planning will result in a permanent, interactive exhibit at the Log House Museum that will highlight the historical and cultural significance of Alki Beach, prioritize interactive museum experiences and the display of historical society artifacts, share diverse stories from across the Duwamish Peninsula, and extend to the exterior of the Log House Museum.
Planning for this exhibit is well underway and has included participation from dozens of community partners, heritage and museum professionals, and the Duwamish Tribe. The project is rooted in SWSHS’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan and inspired from a Peninsula-wide community survey conducted by SWSHS in 2023.
SWSHS is supported by a 12-member board of trustees, advisory committees, including a DEAI Committee, volunteers, members, and many community partners. SWSHS employs a full-time programs and outreach director. Here’s how your West Seattle Giving Spirit can support the SWSHS:
Donate here
Volunteer. Get Involved here
Plan a Visit or Tour
Questions? mu****@************um.org
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here, and watch for the next one on Friday!
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society recently had its annual membership meeting, and has news to share about what’s next. Read about it below – and visit the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) during Saturday night’s Alki Holiday Lights:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society held its annual meeting last Saturday at the Log House Museum, which currently features the exhibit, Seattle’s Forest: The West Duwamish Greenbelt.
SWSHS members gathered to hear about the organization’s accomplishments in 2024, including increasing online access to museum collections, and to learn new details about the organization’s strategic and interpretive planning.
Members also gathered to elect a new slate of Officers to lead SWSHS’s Board of Directors in 2025. Officers include, incoming President Kathy Duncan; incoming Vice President Jason Plourde; Secretary Nancy Sorensen; Treasurer John Sweetland; and Membership Secretary Megan Simkus. The biographies of SWSHS’s 2025 Officers are shared below.
Programs and Outreach Director Elizabeth Rudrud shared new details on SWSHS’s plans for an overhaul of the museum’s exhibitions. A multi-year interpretive planning project supported by Maritime Washington National Heritage Area began earlier this year. The planning will help the historical society design a permanent, interactive exhibit at the Log House Museum that will highlight the historical and cultural significance of Alki Beach, prioritize interactive museum experiences and the display of historical society artifacts, share diverse stories from across the Duwamish Peninsula, and extend to the exterior of the Log House Museum, where several artifacts are currently on display, including the original Alki Beach Lady Liberty.
Planning for this exhibit is well underway and has included participation from community partners, regional heritage and museum professionals, and the Duwamish Tribe. The project is rooted in SWSHS’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan and takes inspiration from a Peninsula-wide community survey conducted by SWSHS in 2023. The competitive, inaugural grant from Maritime WA funds this project through the design phase. Keep your eyes out for updates on the project next year.
Kathy Duncan, incoming SWSHS President, says, “I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue serving the board, Southwest Seattle Historical Society members, and our community. We have exciting plans for expanding programs and
services.”You can visit the Log House Museum Fridays and Saturdays, from 12-4 pm and tomorrow (Saturday, November 23) from 7-9 pm for Alki Holiday Lights. SWSHS will provide complimentary cider and crafts and host a Bake Sale to raise funds for the Society. The event coincides with the arrival of Argosy’s Christmas Ship Festival at Alki Beach.
Learn more about SWSHS programming, including Alki History Walking Tours and Words, Writers, Southwest Stories, at www.loghousemuseum.org
And below – meet the new board (and ongoing leadership)! Read More
Earlier this week, we told you about that almost-century-old West Seattle home up for designation as a city landmark, something its owner applied for. We checked with her on how Wednesday’s Landmarks Board vote turned out – and she reports that board members voted in favor of the designation. The home at 10455 Maplewood SW [map] is known as the Stewart House for its original owners. It changed hands multiple times in its early decades but has now been owned by the same (unrelated to the Stewarts) family for more than half a century. The house is considered an excellent example of “Spanish eclectic” architecture; you can learn more about its background via the report that resulted in its landmark nomination. More photos are viewable in the slide deck prepared for the Landmarks Board process. Next step: The board, and ultimately City Council, will vote on “controls and incentives” for the two-acre property. The Stewart House joins more than a dozen West Seattle properties that are already designated as city landmarks, all mapped here.
Thanks to Deb Barker – former Landmarks Board member among other things – for the tip on this. When the board meets tomorrow, it will consider a landmark designation for a home in southwest West Seattle, 10455 Maplewood SW [map]. It’s known as the Stewart House for its original 1930-1931 owners, Ralph and Evelyn Stewart, an entrepreneurial family that primarily made money through home-heating fuel. The unrelated family that has owned it for more than 50 years is seeking the designation “in an effort to gain Seattle landmark protections for the house and to recognize it for posterity,” according to the report that gained a landmark nomination for the house. It was designed by early-20th-century architects Bain and Pries and is considered an example of “Spanish eclectic” architecture. You can see more photos in the slide deck prepared for the Landmarks Board process. The city’s historic-preservation staff says the two-acre site, with other structures, and home are worthy of consideration as examples of an architecture style and “outstanding work” of architects; you can read their report here. The board will consider the potential landmark designation when it meets at 3:30 pm tomorrow at City Hall downtown. You can also watch the meeting online, and/or comment in person or remotely – the agenda explains how.
P.S. West Seattle already is home to more than a dozen designated city landmarks – all mapped here.
presentation
(WSB photo, Tuesday)
Four days after Camp Long‘s historic lodge was gutted by a fire that’s been ruled arson, the park’s supervisor Matt Kostle asked us to share this with the community, because more has been lost than a building:
Dearest friends, community members and supporters of Camp Long,
Thank you all for your thoughts and support after this tragic fire.
At this time, we do not have any updates on the investigation. We also do not yet have any updates on the next steps for our park. We ask that you look to Seattle Parks and Recreation Communications Department for any updates as they come. We know how special this place is to everyone and what a terrible loss this is to the West Seattle Community. We are so grateful to you for your outpouring of support, memories and inquiries as we grieve this catastrophic event.
In addition to the devastation of our beloved lodge, we also lost everything within it. This includes many historic photos, documents and stories of all the magic that has happened here over the years.
In light of this, we are reaching out to all of you, our community, friends and supporters, to share with us your stories and photos so we can rebuild a new Camp Long Catalogue of history. Below is a link where you can upload photos and stories you would like to share with us, and that we may feature on our social media sites in the days and weeks to come:
Parks’ most recent public comment was that the lodge is still being “assessed” so they can decide what to do next.
(Photo courtesy The Mount – that’s the new time capsule to the left of the sign)
Reps from Nucor Steel visited The Mount (WSB sponsor) to celebrate the new time capsule that will be filled as part of 100th-anniversary festivities. The plant that houses Nucor has decades of history with The Mount – it supplied 1,000,000 pounds of steel for the original construction under general contractor A.W. Quist.
The design and build of the stainless-steel time capsule was led by Richard Crist. with help from melt shop and engineering teammates including Zac Reeves, Mark Hanson, and Andrew Lovre. The announcement from The Mount adds, “Contractor Argo Blower also contributed to the detail cuts of The Mount’s centennial logo mounted on the outside of the box.” You can see the contents of the original 1924 time capsule and admire the new one at The Mount’s holiday bazaar Friday and Saturday; you’re also invited to contribute ideas for what should be sealed inside the new one, for future generations to discover. (The Mount is at 4831 35th SW.)
This Thursday, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s monthly online author series, Words, Writers, Southwest Stories, features Donna Sandstrom, author of “Orca Rescue!” – telling the story of lost orca Springer‘s successful rescue – and founder of The Whale Trail. Here’s the SWSHS announcement:
Working Together to Save the Whales
Stories of Hope, from Springer to the Southern Residents
In 2002 a young orca named Springer was discovered near West Seattle – lost, alone, and 300 miles away from home. Six months later she was rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to her pod on the north end of Vancouver Island. Today she is thriving, with two calves of her own. It’s the only successful orca reintroduction in history!
Join the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and local author Donna Sandstrom for our next Words, Writers, Southwest Stories at 6 pm Thursday, October 10. Sandstrom will share the inspiring story of Springer’s rescue, and how it led her to found The Whale Trail. Learn about current initiatives to protect the endangered southern resident orcas and how you can participate in their recovery.
Donna Sandstrom is the Founder of The Whale Trail, a west coast-wide series of sites to watch whales from shore, In 2002 she was a community organizer on the successful effort to return Springer, an orphaned orca, to her pod. Donna recently served as a member of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Orca Recovery Task Force, where she championed solutions to reduce noise and disturbance around the endangered southern resident orcas. Prior to founding The Whale Trail, she was a team and project manager at Adobe Systems. She is the author of “Orca Rescue, the true story of an orphaned orca named Springer” (Kids Can Press 2021), which is a 2025 Sasquatch Award nominee. She is a long-time resident of West Seattle.
Register here to attend, and SWSHS will send you the link before the talk on Thursday.
P.S. “Orca Rescue” was recently published as an audio book – in which you can hear Springer’s actual calls!
Highland Park Improvement Club trustee Kay Kirkpatrick sent that photo from early this morning, as demolition of HPIC’s fire-gutted building began at 12th/Holden. As previewed here last night, this is a long-awaited step toward rebuilding, 3+ years after the fire. It’s still bittersweet for onlookers to see a century of history come down in a matter of hours; several were watching – including Kirkpatrick – when we stopped by less than an hour ago.
(This photo and next two by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
(added) Thanks to Scott Bessho for this video from right before we arrived, when the entry-side facade came down:
The Fed Excavation demolition crew is making fast work of the building; that’ll be followed by debris-clearing. Kirkpatrik says one challenge this morning was dealing with a ton-and-a-half steel beam. Its fate hasn’t been determined yet; some of the old timber from the building will be reclaimed. As will the site, in the interim time before its replacement is built (fundraising continues) – Kirkpatrick says a work party will be planned to clean it up and beautify it a bit once the building debris is gone.
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