Explore Seattle’s Ballard Neighborhood
Step back in time and explore the history of Seattle's Ballard neighborhood in this Exploration Guide for students in high school. Who has lived here over the years and what have they left behind, both physically and culturally?
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Ballard | HistoryLink
Ballard has a long history beginning with the Duwamish village once located there through its incarnations as Gilman Park, Snoose Junction, and the independent town of Ballard. Which industries were most important in early Ballard, and which are still important today? In 1999, when the article was written, the area was once known for its Scandinavian heritage. Do you think that is still true today?
View Ballard | HistoryLink -
Annexed Cities: Ballard | Seattle Municipal Archives
Ballard citizens voted to join the City of Seattle in 1907. Given that they already had their own city hall, post office, library and other amenities, why was annexation important?
View Annexed Cities: Ballard | Seattle Municipal Archives -
MOHAI Minute: Ballard Firehouse | MOHAI
Learn about the history of Ballard’s Firehouse #18 in this short video made in 2010. What further changes has the Firehouse seen since the video was made?
View MOHAI Minute: Ballard Firehouse | MOHAI -
Ballard Walking Tour | HistoryLink
This walking tour was published in 2001. Many of the landmarks are the same, but the businesses that occupy some of the buildings may have changed. Consider taking the tour to find all the historic locations on the map. (Note: The Nordic Heritage Museum is no longer located at the address on the map. It is now the National Nordic Museum, located at 2655 NW Market Street, a few blocks west of #2 on the walking tour map.) Are there other sites you think should be included in a Ballard walking tour?
View Ballard Walking Tour | HistoryLink -
Masked Robbers Trammel Train in Ballard | HistoryLink
It’s hard to believe that a train robbery ever occurred in Ballard, but this story tells otherwise! There is even a film from 1982 called The Grey Fox which is all about one of the robbers, Bill Miner.
View Masked Robbers Trammel Train in Ballard | HistoryLink -
History at Our Feet: Preserving the Ballard Sidewalk Mosaics | 4Culture
Many Ballard sidewalks have mosaics with the names of Ballard streets from the early 1900s. Many names were changed when Ballard was annexed to the City of Seattle and a numbered street system was adopted, which is what we have today. Check out the 2015 map on this website to find out where the mosaics are located and to see photos of them before restoration.
View History at Our Feet: Preserving the Ballard Sidewalk Mosaics | 4Culture -
End of the Line for Golden Gardens | Seattle Now and Then
How did Golden Gardens get its name? Read the story behind this popular Seattle park and see how it has changed over the decades. What activities, if any, have drawn you to the park, and how do they compare to the activities enjoyed by people 100 years ago?
View End of the Line for Golden Gardens | Seattle Now and Then -
Mapping Historic Ballard Interactive Web Map | Ballard Historical Society
Click on the small map to see the large interactive map, then enjoy clicking around the large map to see the various pre-1965 architectural styles of Ballard homes and buildings. Is your home or school one of those shown?
View Mapping Historic Ballard Interactive Web Map | Ballard Historical Society -
In Twenty Years: Ballard (Part 2) | In Twenty Years
In this short 2015 video about gentrification, Ballard residents share what changes they have seen in their neighborhood and how they feel about the changes. What are your feelings about the changes?
View In Twenty Years: Ballard (Part 2) | In Twenty Years -
Edith Wilson Macefield: A House Is Your Home | HistoryLink
Edith Macefield refused to sell her home to developers of the Ballard Blocks shopping mall in 2006, so they built the mall around her house. What were her reasons for staying on in the house? What would you have done in her situation? This article was published in 2015, when the little house’s future was uncertain. What do you think will ultimately happen to it? (Hint: Search the Internet for the latest.) Edith also told many colorful stories of her life. Are you inclined to believe her stories? Why or why not?
View Edith Wilson Macefield: A House Is Your Home | HistoryLink