Digging Deeper is Historic Seattle’s multi-session program designed to provide attendees with behind-the-scenes insight to primary research materials in the many archives and libraries in Seattle and King County. Each month we visit a selected archive or library and receive expert advice as to what is available and how staff can assist with research projects. This program helps you to explore buildings, architecture, and history. By the time you are through, you will want to attend one or more of the events during National Archives Month in Seattle in October 2016.
On Saturday May 7, we’ll travel to Ballard, a Seattle neighborhood, which was its own city between 1890 and 1907. The first settlement was established in 1852, the same year settlers arrived in Seattle. Development proceeded slowly until railroad entrepreneurs Thomas Burke and Daniel Gilman (remembered now with the Burke-Gilman Trail) assembled a large tract in 1888 for a new community. Learn how Ballard got its name, when/why the railroad came through Ballard, and many more fun facts about this unmistakable Scandinavian community in Seattle.
Why Ballard? In late summer 2015, Historic Seattle surveyed those who had attended one or more of the Digging Deeper tours. We asked ‘if we were to offer tours of specific neighborhood / community historical/heritage societies, which would you be interested in attending?’ The overwhelming response (71%) was Ballard, so this year we will explore all things Ballard.
Our look into Ballard ‘archives’ will take place at the Sunset Hill Community Association northwest of downtown Ballard. (The club house was built in 1929 specifically for the neighborhood association.) Our host is the Ballard Historical Society which will discuss its archives and how to access its records. Additionally we will have Anne Frantilla, Deputy City Archivist, Seattle Archives and Records Management Program, Seattle Municipal Archives, who will discuss the Ballard records housed at the Seattle Municipal Archives. Also attending will be John LaMont, Genealogy Librarian for Seattle Public Library (SPL), and Hannah Parker with the Ballard Branch of SPL.
Photo: Queen Anne Boulevard, looking north across Salmon Bay towards Ballard / Credit: Seattle Municipal Archives Photograph Collection, Item No. 30032
Cost:
Series of eight sessions: $65 general public / $50 members
Individual sessions: $10 general public / $8 members