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Shoreline Tidbits
While there are many beach towns and seaside cities in the entire United States, only few can combine the urban cityscape with coastal living. The residents of Shoreline, Washington have no problem doing just that. Shoreline seemingly has a short and uneventful history. It began as an unincorporated community in King County. In 1944, the school district within that community was called "Shoreline" because of its geography. Later, in 1995, it was incorporated as a city.
There is always much to learn about Shoreline and Washington, though, so the story is much more colorful. The Shoreline Historical Museum will take you on a more exciting adventure through the city's history. One of its exhibits is "Linking the Community Through Time: Connections That Bring Us Together", which shows photos and information about the first wave of settlers who migrated to King County.
Another exhibit is the "Once Upon a Time in Playland", which chronicles the history of one of the county's most popular landmarks and tourist attractions. There are three historic houses in King County, but the one in Shoreline is a pioneer family home that was built in 1901. This is a beautiful place to visit and see how the early 20th century settlers established lives in Washington. The museum has over 6,000 photos and more than 5,000 artifacts that showcase the area's history.
There are three designated landmarks in Shoreline. One of them is the William E. Boeing House in The Highlands neighborhood of the city. The 1914 house belonged to William Boeing, the original founder of the Boeing Company. The structure was designed by Charles Bebb and spans 14,000 square feet. During the 1950s, Boeing sold his house to the Children's Orthopedic Hospital, which later also sold it to John Elroy McCaw.
The other historic landmark is the one inside the Godfrey Building, which was built in 1922. It is located in the Richmond Beach business district and is the last historic retail building of its kind still standing. The Roland Elementary School was constructed in 1912. Located on 749 N. 175TH Street, this structure now houses the Shoreline Historical Museum.
Aside from the historic landmarks, two of the city's most popular points of interest are the Boeing Creek and Shoreview Park. Together, they are an 88-acre park system that borders Shoreline Community College. Boeing Creek Park is composed of a wooded area that leads to the creek while the Shoreview Park is a recreational area with tennis courts, sports fields for baseball and soccer, and a dog park where you can let your canine friends run around without a leash.
The parks have beautiful flowers and plants like the Western hemlock, salmonberry shrubs, Himalayan blackberry, and more. Boeing Creek Park has different forested areas with different kinds of trees like Conifer, Western red cedar trees, and Douglas-fir, among others. The parks are also great for bird watching, what with so many bird species like Great blue heron, pileated woodpecker, and bald eagle.
There are more parks in Shoreline because this city loves nature. It is just nine miles away from Downtown Seattle, but it still has a seaside suburban ambiance. Even though it has commercial centers and retail shops, its nightlife is not like Seattle.
This doesn't mean that the residents don't know how to have fun, though. Twin Ponds Park on 15401 1st Avenue has a soccer field where you'll see students practicing for interschool competitions. It also has a playground, picnic tables, soft-surface trails, a tennis court, and a forested area. Of course, there's also the pond where you can see the reflection of the breathtaking sunset.
The Ronald Bog Park on 2301 N. 175th Street has a wide open space where you can just walk around to enjoy the scenery, which involves tall green trees, access to the lake, and a public art structure made of two intersecting hollow bars. You'll also see geese on the land after or before they dive into the water. There's also an arboretum so you can definitely fill your time looking at the different plants and trees in the area. Bring a sketchpad, whether digital or paper, and have a blast.
Shoreline residents and visitors have a lot to look forward to when it comes to having fun in the city. There are annual events that anyone can join, just like the Million Stair Challenge in June. This happens at the Richmond Beach Saltwater Park where there are 188 flights of stairs. The challenge is to see how high you can go and how many steps up the stairs you can get to before giving in. It's a fun activity for anyone who wants to do something thrilling.
At Cromwell Park, there's a different kind of fun. Residents and tourists alike are invited to a karaoke session in the park. You can bring a picnic basket, a lawn chair, a blanket, and especially your camera to capture unforgettable moments when people sing their hearts out. It's all in good fun and everyone in Shoreline is guaranteed a good time.
