Magnolia Neighborhood
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Located on the peninsula nestled just west of Queen Anne hill and south of the Ballard Locks, Magnolia has the feel of a small town within a big and bustling city. As one of the western-most points in Seattle, Magnolia is accessible only by three bridges and has natural boundaries that give residents an island-living feel just a short drive from the center of town.
Naturally hilly and right on the water, Magnolia is filled with scenic views and unique landmarks, one of the most famous of which is also connected to the story of its namesake. When federal surveyors first set foot on Magnolia Bluff in 1857, they mistook the plentiful madrona tress (distinctive for their red bark) for magnolias, and named the neighborhood as such. And though they were mistaken, the name stuck.
One of the most historically rich neighborhoods in the city, Magnolia is home to the largest city park in Seattle, Discovery Park, a 534-acre piece of land perched above the Bluff overlooking Puget Sound, providing open recreational spaces and spectacular views of both the Olympic and Cascade mountains. Just next to the park is Fort Lawton, a 700-acre permanent Army garrison established in 1898.
Today Magnolia is a vibrant and multifaceted neighborhood that is home to the West Point Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on Puget Sound, the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, and a small but active business district affectionately termed “The Village.”
Varied in its history and landscapes, Magnolia is a small, family-oriented community–the kind of place where almost everybody knows your name.
To learn more about Magnolia, visit the neighborhood’s blog, MagnoliaVoice.com.
