Capitol Hill, Seattle

Capitol Hill is a busy neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. It sits just east of Downtown Seattle and north of First Hill. This area is well-known for its lively nightlife and entertainment. Many people enjoy visiting for its fun atmosphere.

The neighborhood also has a rich history. It is home to a special area that has been important to the LGBTQ+ community for many years. Capitol Hill is also famous for its music scene, with many venues hosting different kinds of performances.

Today, Capitol Hill remains a popular place for both locals and visitors. Its mix of homes, shops, restaurants, and entertainment makes it a vibrant part of Seattle.

History

In the early 1900s, Capitol Hill was called "Broadway Hill" after the main street there. The reason it is called Capitol Hill today is not clear. One story says a developer named James A. Moore chose the name hoping the Washington State Capitol would move to Seattle from Olympia. Another story says he named it after a place called Capitol Hill in Denver, Colorado, where his wife grew up. Some believe both stories might be true. Until the 1980s, many people called the area "Catholic Hill" because many Catholic families lived there.

Capitol Hill c. 1917

Capitol Hill has some of Seattle’s wealthiest areas, like "Millionaire’s Row" along 14th Avenue E. south of Volunteer Park. The neighborhood includes special apartment buildings, such as those designed by Fred Anhalt, and a few remaining Classical Revival buildings like the Blackstone Apartments. After World War II, many new apartments were built, but some people felt they didn’t offer enough privacy.

In the 1970s, Seattle grouped neighborhoods into planning zones and included Capitol Hill and Renton Hill together. During this time, Seattle’s LGBTQ community moved to Capitol Hill, where it has stayed ever since.

View of Fourteenth Avenue, an area known as Millionaire's Row (published 1909 in an Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition pamphlet

During the George Floyd protests in 2020, some streets near Cal Anderson Park were occupied by protesters and called the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.

Geography

Capitol Hill is located on a steep hill just east of Seattle’s downtown area. It is bordered by Interstate 5 to the west, State Route 520 and Interlaken Park to the north, E. Pike and E. Madison Streets to the south, and 23rd and 24th Avenues E. to the east.

Panorama of Capitol Hill during blue hour, as seen from the 40th floor of 1525 9th Ave.

The main street in Capitol Hill is Broadway, which is the center of the neighborhood’s activity. Other important streets include 10th, 12th, 15th, and 19th Avenues, as well as E. Pine, E. Pike, E. John, E. Thomas, E. Aloha Streets, and E. Olive Way. Many shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, and music venues line these streets, especially along E. Pike Street, E. Pine Street, Broadway, 15th Avenue, and E. Olive Way. The highest point in Capitol Hill is in Volunteer Park, where there is also a water tower.

Transportation

The Link light rail has a station in Capitol Hill, called the Capitol Hill station. It opened in March 2016 and is part of the University Link extension. This line connects Capitol Hill to the University of Washington campus to the north and Downtown Seattle to the south.

The First Hill Streetcar line also serves the area and started operating in January 2016. It ends in Capitol Hill on Broadway at Denny Way. Before 1940, city-run streetcars used to run here too.

Buses in Capitol Hill are run by King County Metro, with routes like 10, 12, 43, and 49. The Rapid Ride G bus line goes through the neighborhood along Madison Street, linking downtown Seattle, First Hill, Capitol Hill, Madison Valley, and Madison Park. During busy times, buses arrive every 6 minutes and have special stops between 9th and 13th avenues.

Culture

Arts and entertainment

Capitol Hill is famous for its music and entertainment. It is closely linked to Seattle's grunge music from the early 1990s, even though many famous venues were just outside the area. Today, the neighborhood has many kinds of music, like electronica, rock, punk, folk, salsa, hip hop, and trance.

The area is a popular place for nightlife, with many bars and live music. You can find coffeehouses, taverns, and bars along the main streets, along with many different types of homes. Capitol Hill has two well-known movie theaters that show films all year, including during special events. There is also a place where people learn and make films. Every summer, the neighborhood hosts a big outdoor music festival.

Coffeehouses

Besides big coffee chains, Capitol Hill is home to some famous local coffeehouses. One place, Espresso Vivace, is known for starting special coffee traditions in Seattle.

LGBTQ community

One of Capitol Hill's eleven rainbow crosswalks, pictured at Broadway and Pine Street

Capitol Hill became an important place for many people seeking acceptance and community in the mid-20th century. As other areas of Seattle changed, many people found a new home here, and the neighborhood grew to include many who wanted to live together and support each other.

Over time, Capitol Hill became a center for community groups and events. It was here that important organizations for young people and support services were created. Even today, the area continues to hold special events and memories to honor those who have been affected by health challenges.

Landmarks and institutions

Capitol Hill has many special places. Some important historic spots include the Harvard-Belmont Landmark District, where you can find the original building of the Cornish College of the Arts. Volunteer Park is home to the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Volunteer Park Conservatory. Another notable place is The Northwest School.

The area also has several parks such as Cal Anderson Park, Louisa Boren Park, Interlaken Park, and Roanoke Park. Lake View Cemetery is north of Volunteer Park, and the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery is even further north.

Kerry Hall is the original building of the Cornish School and now the last piece of the Cornish College of the Arts remaining on the Hill (the rest is now in the Denny Triangle).

Schools and universities on Capitol Hill include The Northwest School, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, Holy Names Academy, Seattle Hebrew Academy, Seattle Preparatory School, Seattle University, Seattle Central Community College, and St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. Seattle University is south of Madison Street and is sometimes considered part of Capitol Hill or First Hill.

The oldest African-American church in Seattle is located on 14th Avenue. It was built in 1912 and became a Seattle landmark in 1984. There is also a Jewish place of worship nearby in the Central District.