Getting around the hill
To travel east and west, follow Madison, James, Cherry and Spring Streets, along with Yesler Way. For north and south trips, use 9th Avenue, Boren Avenue and Broadway. Wear comfortable shoes, because many of these streets have real grades, especially when you walk up from downtown.
Planners once hoped to put a Link light rail station on First Hill, but geotechnical risks led them to drop it. The First Hill Streetcar stepped in instead, rolling along Broadway and Jackson Street since January 2016. Hop aboard to connect with the International District / Chinatown and Capitol Hill light rail stations.
From Mansion Row to Profanity Hill
By the 1890s, First Hill had become a favorite address for Seattle's wealthier families, close enough to downtown for daily business yet far enough away to feel like a retreat. Judge Cornelius H. Hanford, contractor Morgan Carkeek and Boeing founder William Boeing all made their homes here.
Meatpacker Charles Frye lived on the hill too, and you can now browse his private art collection at the Frye Art Museum, right here in the neighborhood. In the 1910s, photographer Imogen Cunningham and her husband Roi Partridge rented in a First Hill boarding house, staying until it was emptied and turned into a hospital.
The courthouse behind a nickname
King County built its first official courthouse at 7th Avenue and Alder Street in 1889 and 1890. Lawyers climbing up from their downtown offices grumbled so loudly about the hike that they named the area Profanity Hill. The county soon outgrew the building and moved the courthouse off the hill in 1916.
Why Locals Call It Pill Hill
The hill's other nickname comes from its many medical buildings. Harborview Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center's First Hill campus and Virginia Mason Medical Center all operate here, and the Puget Sound Blood Center calls the neighborhood home as well.
Medicine has deep roots on these streets. The Maynard, Seattle General and Doctors Hospitals once stood here before merging into Swedish, and Cabrini Hospital was also on First Hill. Add Swedish's Cherry Hill campus on 16th Avenue, and the count of major facilities rises to four.
Landmark Buildings for a Slow Walk
First Hill packs in a dense cluster of designated city landmarks, so plan an unhurried stroll. Start with three standout churches: St. James Cathedral, Trinity Parish Episcopal Church and Seattle First Baptist Church. Each holds landmark status and anchors its own corner of the neighborhood.
Homes from the grand era
Several early houses still recall the mansion years. Seek out the Stimson-Green House, the Dearborn House and the Phillips House as you wander. The U.S. Assay Office, later known as German House, adds an unusual civic chapter to the streetscape.
Apartments, halls and a firehouse
The hill's later growth comes through in landmark apartment buildings such as the Cassel Crag Apartments, the Wintonia Hotel and the Baroness Apartment Hotel. Keep an eye out for Old Fire Station #25 and the Knights of Columbus building, both of which also carry landmark status.
Town Hall Seattle fills the former Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, giving an old sanctuary a lively new public role. The Summit School building, now associated with the Northwest School, is another protected structure. Check each organization's official site for public access and current programs before you set out.
The Sorrento Hotel
Built in 1909 in an Italian style, the Sorrento Hotel on Madison Street ranks among the hill's best known historic buildings. Its story weaves together a struggling clothier, a famous pear orchard and a careful renovation in the 1980s.
Green Space on a Busy Hill
For a neighborhood filled with hospitals and apartment towers, First Hill offers a handful of welcome parks. The biggest draw is Freeway Park, built as a lid over Interstate 5, where 5.2 acres tie First Hill to downtown and the Seattle Convention Center.
Opened in 1976 and now a designated Seattle Landmark, the park also appears in city records as Jim Ellis Freeway Park. Take it as the easiest walking route between downtown and the hill, and let the plantings soften the climb along the way.
Smaller neighborhood parks
First Hill Park, on University Street, opened in 1987 and was renovated in 2021. Several landmark buildings lie within a short walk, so it makes a handy pause on a self-guided tour.
Just a few blocks from several landmarks and from First Hill Park, Boylston Place, a small city park on Broadway, offers a quiet stop near the streetcar line.
Schools and Culture on First Hill
Seattle University, a private Jesuit school, has called First Hill home since 1891. The neighborhood also hosts the Northwest School, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences and O'Dea High School, a Catholic school.
For visitors, the Frye Art Museum is the main cultural stop, built around Charles Frye's collection. Catch a talk or event at Town Hall Seattle in its historic hall. Hours and programs change, so confirm details on each venue's official website before you go.
