Location: Central Seattle/Capitol Hill
Address: 1247 15th Ave. E.
Acreage: 48.3
Looking for someplace to take out-of-towners that’s free and has views almost as good as the Space Needle? Volunteer Park’s water tower on Capitol Hill provides great vistas of Seattle and the only cost is the workout it takes to get up the 106 steps.
But Volunteer Park has plenty of other reasons to visit. Tall trees, open grass meadows, a children’s play area, a reservoir, tennis courts, trails, a Conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
The park was named in honor of the volunteers involved in the Spanish-American war, which lasted from 1898 to 1902.
The park dates back to 1876 when the city paid–get this–only $2,000 for 40 acres of land on Capitol Hill. The Olmsted Brothers put their touches on the park in the early 1900s, creating the plans for many of the park’s current features including the conservatory.
And if you’re interested in learning more about the Olmsted Brothers, there is a great exhibit at the top of the water tower.
But you’re going to have to climb those steps to see it.
#49 (Visited 11/4/09)