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Overview

For $2,000, the City of Seattle purchased this wooded 40 acres from the Scottish-born sawmill owner James Murray Colman (1832-1906) in 1876. It functioned by1885 as a cemetery, but its official purpose was changed back to a city park in 1887. "Lake View Park," (or "City Park") as it was known from 1887-1901, became "Volunteer Park" in 1901, to honor those who had volunteered for the Spanish-American War. After 1901, numerous improvements began in Volunteer Park, including the construction of the reservoir (1901) and the water tower/observatory (1906). The park was systematized by the Olmsted Brothers, who designed paved roads and other amenities for it between 1904 and 1909. John Charles Olmsted (1852–1920) served as the mastermind for this park's redesign. The nearby conservatory was completed in 1912.

Building History

The City of Seattle's Water Departmenthas been given credit for the water tower and reservoir designs.

Building Notes

One-hundred-seven steps lead to the top of the Volunteer Park Water Tower. Its location was selected as the highest point in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, at 444.5 feet; with the height of the tower, viewers from its top gaze out at 520 feet above sea level.

PCAD id: 13230