History of Wallingford, Seattle

On our next adventure into the history of Seattle neighborhoods, we look at one of my favorites, Wallingford.  Seattle annexed Wallingford, along with most of the area north of Lake Union in 1891.  Named after John Wallingford who purchased and developed the area in 1888. 

One of the most notable landmarks in Wallingford is Gas Works Park.  Gas Works park was the former home to the Seattle Gas Light Company.  Operated for about 50 years from 1906 to 1956, Seattle Gas Light made synthetic gas from coal, petroleum, and carbon-based material.  About a decade after the company closed, the city of Seattle purchased the land to create a public park.  Many of the plant’s pieces were repurposed, including one that is used as a play structure.   It officially opened in 1975 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Another landmark is the Guild Theater on North 45th Street.  Originally opened in 1919, Guild Theater was previously named Paramount Theater until the downtown Seattle Paramount opened.  This previously popular theater was a favorite of Francis Ford Coppola.  The theater closed in 2017 for renovations but never reopened. 

While there are no official boundaries for Wallingford, it is located between Lake Union and Green Lake.  To the east and west is Aurora Avenue and the interstate.