Great Seattle Arts Adventure: Explore the History of the Frye & First Hill

This post is a part of the Great Seattle Arts Adventure, an all-ages scavenger hunt style adventure game for teams to engage in activities related to arts and arts organizations in the Seattle area. The game continues through October 25th so join in the fun!

This city is full of history! We start by acknowledging and honoring the land that now comprises Seattle as the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish tribe. This city has become what it is today thanks to their stewardship. 

Did you know that First Hill was the city of Seattle’s first residential neighborhood, established as far back as the 1870s? Today many Seattleites know it as “Pill Hill” because of the concentration of major hospitals and medical offices in the area, but the few remaining historic homes scattered around the neighborhood tell the story of First Hill’s residential history. The founders of the Frye Art Museum, business leaders and art collectors Charles and Emma Frye, owned one of those early First Hill residences which sat at the corner of Columbia Street and 9th Avenue. While their home was long ago demolished, the Museum was built and remains just a block away!

For a time in the early twentieth century, First Hill was known as a bit of an artistic hub when—in addition to Charles and Emma’s notorious dancing and dinner parties in their in-home art gallery—renowned photographer Imogen Cunningham also lived in the area in the 1910s. St. James Cathedral, whose cornerstone was laid in 1905, contributed significantly to the formation and changes of the neighborhood. Today we can see evidence and hints of the many years of change and development in the neighborhood: from the hospitals to the historic homes, the modern high-rise residential buildings to the cultural centers, and so much more.

Your mission is to explore First Hill (either in person or via Google street view) and observe the ways you can see the neighborhood’s evolution over time! Maybe visit the Museum (at 704 Terry Ave), or the location of the Fryes’ former home (on the east corner of Columbia and 9th). Find a hidden park, a work of public art, or a historic landmark. You might be surprised by what you find in the neighborhood! Snap a screenshot, photo, or video of one of your favorite landmarks, buildings, or details you notice. 

Rachel Townsend
Communications Associate