Seattle Historical Sites

This highly altered three-story apartment building located in the Squire Park section of the Central Area was constructed in 1908. The Yesler Way cable car line to Lake Washington opened in 1888 and by the mid -1890s both residential and commercial development along Yesler Avenue was well under way. Seattle experienced a major population growth following the 1897 Alaska Gold Rush and into the first decades of the 20^th Century. Apartment development flourished from 1906 until World War I, when post-war economic difficulties slowed development until the 1920s. Much of the Central Area was predominantly Jewish before World War I and many Jewish businesses and synagogues were flourishing in the area around Yesler Way east of 10^th Avenue. After World War II, most of the Jewish community moved to the Seward Park, Mercer Island and Bellevue. Also before World War II, a substantial Japanese community lived near Yesler and in Japantown several blocks to the southwest.  They owned many businesses near Yesler Way and had a number of important institutions. However, following their internment in World War II, relatively few Japanese returned to the area. Since the mid-20^th century the Central Area has been particularly connected with the African-American community.