Volunteer Park

Historic Origins

Volunteer Park is a 48.3-acre public park located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Established in 1876, the park was initially purchased by the city for municipal purposes and briefly served as a cemetery before being converted to park use in 1887.

It was renamed Volunteer Park in 1901 to honor volunteers who fought in the Spanish-American War.

The water tower is located in south section of the park

Photo: allynfolksjr (CC BY 2.0)

Olmsted Design Legacy

Designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm in 1904, Volunteer Park is considered the crown jewel of Seattle's Olmsted-designed park system. The park features a naturalistic, pastoral American romantic style, with irregular open lawns bordered by shrub and tree plantings, carefully framed views, and circulation loops.

A central concourse runs along the park's ridge top between the water tower and the Conservatory.

The park has several large fields for activities

Photo: yancy9 (CC BY 2.0)

Notable Attractions

Volunteer Park is home to several notable structures and features. The Volunteer Park Conservatory, a Victorian-style greenhouse built in 1912, houses a diverse collection of exotic plants.

The Seattle Asian Art Museum, originally the main Seattle Art Museum building, has been located in the park since 1933. A distinctive water tower, built in 1906, offers a 360-degree observation deck at the top, providing views of the city, Puget Sound, and surrounding mountains.

Looking south from the Water Tower Observation Deck

Photo: Chasqui (Luis Tamayo) (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Recreational Amenities

The park includes a reservoir, which was incorporated into Olmsted's design as a prominent visual feature. Other amenities include wading pools, play areas, tennis courts, and walking paths.

The park is known for its dahlia display, planted annually by the Puget Sound Dahlia Association since 1984.

The picture shows the Black Sun sculpture with the Seattle Space Needle in the background

Photo: Steve 2.0 (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Community Significance

Volunteer Park serves as both a citywide destination and a neighborhood park. It hosts various community events and has been the site of Easter services, parades, and early Seattle Pride festivals.

Due to its rich history and largely intact Olmsted landscape design, Volunteer Park was designated a Seattle Landmark in 2011.