Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History
@writesofway.bsky.social
Musings on Seattle’s streets, their names, and more besides. https://writesofway.org/about/ #NameStudies #onomastics #LocalHistory #LocalHistorians #SeattleHistory #StreetNames #cities #maps #plats #history #SeattleStreets #PNW
Reposted by Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History
a curiosity search led me to a website by @lukobe.bsky.social which appears to be dedicated to the impossibly nerd-friendly matter of seattle street names
www.writesofway.org/diagonal-ave...
www.writesofway.org/diagonal-ave...
November 13, 2025 at 10:16 PM
a curiosity search led me to a website by @lukobe.bsky.social which appears to be dedicated to the impossibly nerd-friendly matter of seattle street names
www.writesofway.org/diagonal-ave...
www.writesofway.org/diagonal-ave...
Reposted by Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History
it might be time for a renaming
November 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
it might be time for a renaming
Reposted by Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History
This street was created in 1926 as part of the Replat of a Portion of Blocks 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of North Beach, an Addition to the City of Seattle. I presume it was named for the neighborhood’s view of Puget Sound (“mar”) and the Olympic Mountains (“mount”). www.writesofway.org/marmount-dri...
www.writesofway.org
August 6, 2025 at 9:36 PM
This street was created in 1926 as part of the Replat of a Portion of Blocks 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of North Beach, an Addition to the City of Seattle. I presume it was named for the neighborhood’s view of Puget Sound (“mar”) and the Olympic Mountains (“mount”). www.writesofway.org/marmount-dri...
Like Loyal Avenue NW, this street was named by Edward B. Cox, Harry Whitney Treat, and Olive Marion Graef Treat in the 1907 plat of Loyal Heights. The streets and the subdivision were named after Loyal Graef Treat Nichols (1906–2004), the Treats’ newborn daughter. www.writesofway.org/loyal-way-nw/
www.writesofway.org
August 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Like Loyal Avenue NW, this street was named by Edward B. Cox, Harry Whitney Treat, and Olive Marion Graef Treat in the 1907 plat of Loyal Heights. The streets and the subdivision were named after Loyal Graef Treat Nichols (1906–2004), the Treats’ newborn daughter. www.writesofway.org/loyal-way-nw/
This street was named as part of the 1907 plat of Loyal Heights. Then, as now, the lots abutted a wooded (“sylvan”) area surrounding an unnamed creek that begins just north of NW 87th Street and flows to Puget Sound at North Beach.
www.writesofway.org/sylvan-place...
www.writesofway.org/sylvan-place...
Sylvan Place NW ~ Writes of Way ~ Seattle street names origins and history
This street was named as part of the 1907 plat of Loyal Heights, filed by Edward B. Cox and Harry Whitney Treat, and Treat’s wife, Olive Marion Graef Treat. Then, as now, the lots abutted a wooded (“s...
www.writesofway.org
August 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
This street was named as part of the 1907 plat of Loyal Heights. Then, as now, the lots abutted a wooded (“sylvan”) area surrounding an unnamed creek that begins just north of NW 87th Street and flows to Puget Sound at North Beach.
www.writesofway.org/sylvan-place...
www.writesofway.org/sylvan-place...
Originally published on Crosscut.com in 2011, an article on Dave Niehaus Way S -- the honorary designation of 1st Avenue S as it runs alongside T-Mobile Park. www.writesofway.org/dave-niehaus...
July 26, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Originally published on Crosscut.com in 2011, an article on Dave Niehaus Way S -- the honorary designation of 1st Avenue S as it runs alongside T-Mobile Park. www.writesofway.org/dave-niehaus...
More information on the closure, namesake, and history of the Seattle BNSF Railway facility Balmer Yard www.writesofway.org/balmer-yard/
June 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
More information on the closure, namesake, and history of the Seattle BNSF Railway facility Balmer Yard www.writesofway.org/balmer-yard/
This short Madrona street, formerly an unnamed alley, was named in 1923 for E Howell Street, itself named for Jefferson Davis Howell (1846–1875). www.writesofway.org/howell-place/
Howell Place ~ Writes of Way ~ Seattle street names origins and history
This street was named in 1923 by Ordinance 45722, which provided that: That certain alley in the City of Seattle, being the alley in Block one (1), Yesler & McGilvra Addition, running from East Howell...
www.writesofway.org
March 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
This short Madrona street, formerly an unnamed alley, was named in 1923 for E Howell Street, itself named for Jefferson Davis Howell (1846–1875). www.writesofway.org/howell-place/
This street was named for its view from Beacon Hill, not of Beacon Hill. www.writesofway.org/vista-avenue...
Vista Avenue S ~ Writes of Way ~ Seattle street names origins and history
This street was created in two stages: the southern portion of this street in 1971 as 25th Avenue S, part of the plat of Beacon Vista; the northern portion in 1976, part of Goodwin's Addition. A year ...
www.writesofway.org
January 14, 2025 at 4:57 AM
This street was named for its view from Beacon Hill, not of Beacon Hill. www.writesofway.org/vista-avenue...
This University District street, built sometime between 2002 and 2005, received its name in 2016 as part of a bill to improve emergency wayfinding. It was named, of course, for Eastlake Avenue NE (the University Bridge), in whose right-of-way it was built. www.writesofway.org/eastlake-pla...
November 25, 2024 at 3:50 AM
This University District street, built sometime between 2002 and 2005, received its name in 2016 as part of a bill to improve emergency wayfinding. It was named, of course, for Eastlake Avenue NE (the University Bridge), in whose right-of-way it was built. www.writesofway.org/eastlake-pla...
This Queen Anne street was established in 1923 as Lee Place and received its current name in 1924. It was likely named for the Queen Anne Standpipes, a pair of water towers nearby that were built in 1900 and 1901 and served the neighborhood until 2007.
https://www.writesofway.org/tower-place/
https://www.writesofway.org/tower-place/
November 22, 2024 at 6:13 PM
This Queen Anne street was established in 1923 as Lee Place and received its current name in 1924. It was likely named for the Queen Anne Standpipes, a pair of water towers nearby that were built in 1900 and 1901 and served the neighborhood until 2007.
https://www.writesofway.org/tower-place/
https://www.writesofway.org/tower-place/
This street was created in 1977 to connect the proposed NOAA Western Regional Center to Sand Point Way NE. NOAA stands for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which took over the northern portion of the old Sand Point Naval Air Station.
https://www.writesofway.org/ne-noaa-drive/
https://www.writesofway.org/ne-noaa-drive/
November 20, 2024 at 12:13 AM
This street was created in 1977 to connect the proposed NOAA Western Regional Center to Sand Point Way NE. NOAA stands for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which took over the northern portion of the old Sand Point Naval Air Station.
https://www.writesofway.org/ne-noaa-drive/
https://www.writesofway.org/ne-noaa-drive/
Reposted by Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History
#OnThisDay in 1891, Chevra Bikur Cholim incorporated in Seattle. https://historylink.org/File/99
November 17, 2024 at 5:50 PM
#OnThisDay in 1891, Chevra Bikur Cholim incorporated in Seattle. https://historylink.org/File/99
Like Heights Avenue SW, this West Seattle street was created in 1924 as part of the plat of Hunnel Heights, an Addition to the City of Seattle.
https://www.writesofway.org/heights-place-sw/
https://www.writesofway.org/heights-place-sw/
November 15, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Like Heights Avenue SW, this West Seattle street was created in 1924 as part of the plat of Hunnel Heights, an Addition to the City of Seattle.
https://www.writesofway.org/heights-place-sw/
https://www.writesofway.org/heights-place-sw/
This West Seattle street was created in 1924 as part of the plat of Hunnel Heights, named for James (1857–1925) and Mamie Hummel (1868–1951). Why it wasn't Hunnel Avenue instead, I'm not sure.
https://www.writesofway.org/heights-avenue-sw/
https://www.writesofway.org/heights-avenue-sw/
November 15, 2024 at 5:23 PM
This West Seattle street was created in 1924 as part of the plat of Hunnel Heights, named for James (1857–1925) and Mamie Hummel (1868–1951). Why it wasn't Hunnel Avenue instead, I'm not sure.
https://www.writesofway.org/heights-avenue-sw/
https://www.writesofway.org/heights-avenue-sw/
This West Seattle street, created in 1909 as part of the Replat of Blocks 2, 5, and 6, Lincoln Beach Park, was named for developer Carlisle Gatewood (1860–1947), after whom Gatewood Elementary School and the Gatewood neighborhood itself are also named.
www.writesofway.org/gatewood-roa...
www.writesofway.org/gatewood-roa...
Gatewood Road SW ~ Writes of Way
This West Seattle street was created in 1909 as part of the Replat of Blocks 2, 5, and 6, Lincoln Beach Park. Based on its proximity to the Gatewood Acre Tracts and Gatewood Gardens subdivisions, it w...
www.writesofway.org
November 15, 2024 at 5:26 AM
This West Seattle street, created in 1909 as part of the Replat of Blocks 2, 5, and 6, Lincoln Beach Park, was named for developer Carlisle Gatewood (1860–1947), after whom Gatewood Elementary School and the Gatewood neighborhood itself are also named.
www.writesofway.org/gatewood-roa...
www.writesofway.org/gatewood-roa...
Hi! I’m Benjamin Lukoff, a local historian born, raised, and living in Seattle. Writes of Way tells the stories behind the names of Seattle’s streets. writesofway.org/about #NameStudies #names #onomastics #LocalHistory #LocalHistorians #Seattle #names #streets #StreetNames #cities #history
About ~ Writes of Way
Welcome to Writes of Way! I’m Benjamin Lukoff, a local historian born, raised, and living in Seattle. As I write in my inaugural post, I’ve been an “address nerd” since I was very young, and a major c...
writesofway.org
November 15, 2024 at 5:25 AM
Hi! I’m Benjamin Lukoff, a local historian born, raised, and living in Seattle. Writes of Way tells the stories behind the names of Seattle’s streets. writesofway.org/about #NameStudies #names #onomastics #LocalHistory #LocalHistorians #Seattle #names #streets #StreetNames #cities #history