Stories
Seattle stories for walks, landmarks, and local context
Short, source-backed reads that explain what you are seeing while you move through the city.
City story
A Cultural Hub in the District
Long before the modern concert halls, the heart of Seattle's Japanese American community beat in the Nippon Kan Theatre. Opened in 190…
City story
A Cultural Hub in the District
In 1909, a new kind of community space opened below the Astor Hotel in the International District. The Nippon Kan Theatre was built as…
City story
A Cultural Hub Lost and Found
In 1909, a community space opened below the Astor Hotel in the International District known as the Nippon Kan Theatre. For decades, it…
City story
A Fire on the Water
Moored at the Historic Ships Wharf is a vessel that once held the city's safety in its pumps. Built in 1909 for the Seattle Fire Depar…
City story
A Floating History
The Wagner House is one of Seattle's oldest surviving houseboats, but it didn't start its life on Lake Union. Built around 1909, it be…
City story
A Floating History
Not all of Seattle's historic homes are on solid ground. The Wagner House is one of the city's oldest surviving houseboats, beginning…
City story
A Floating Home's History
On the shores of Lake Union sits the Wagner House, one of the oldest surviving houseboats in Seattle. Built around 1909 or 1912, it ac…
City story
A Floating Home's Journey
Some houses are built to stay put, but the Wagner Houseboat was built to move. Born around 1909 as a summer home on Lake Washington ne…
City story
A Floating Legacy
On the waters of Lake Union, there's a house that’s more than just a home. The Wagner House began its life around 1909 as a summer hom…
City story
A Floating Legacy
Most houses are built on soil, but the Wagner Houseboat was designed for the water. Originally built around 1909 as a summer home on L…
City story
A Floating Legacy
Tucked away on Lake Union is the Wagner House, one of the oldest surviving houseboats in the city. This floating home actually started…
City story
A Floating Legacy
Lake Union is famous for its houseboats, but the Wagner House is something special. Built around 1909 or 1912, it actually began its l…
City story
A Floating Legacy
Living on the water requires a different kind of engineering than building on land. The Wagner Houseboat is one of the oldest survivin…
City story
A Floating Legacy
Some of Seattle's oldest homes don't have foundations; they have floats. Take the Wagner House, for example. This vessel began its lif…
City story
A Floating Legacy
Imagine living your life on the water, drifting slightly with the tide of Lake Union. The Wagner House is one of Seattle's oldest surv…
City story
A Floating Legacy
Some of Seattle's most historic homes don't sit on land—they float. The Wagner House is one of the oldest surviving houseboats on Lake…
City story
A Floating Summer Escape
Long before Lake Union was a hub of tech and houseboats, there was a trend for floating summer homes. Around 1909, a unique home was b…
City story
A Floating Summer Home
Long before the modern houseboats of Lake Union, there were floating homes designed as simple summer retreats. The Wagner Houseboat, b…
City story
A Fusion of Worlds
In 1927, Fujitaro Kubota bought five acres of logged-off swampland in the Rainier Beach neighborhood. He didn't just plant a nursery;…
City story
A Garden Born of Activism
Can a garden be a political statement? In 1975, in the heart of the Chinatown-International District, a group of Asian American activi…
City story
A Garden Born of Activism
In the heart of the Chinatown-International District, there's a green sanctuary that started with a negotiation. In 1975, Asian Americ…