Georgetown is seriously underrated. This little neighborhood in south Seattle is full of history. It was home to the Duwamish tribe until the 1850s, when white settlers forcibly took over the land.¹  

Georgetown has long been an industrial hub. The Duwamish River plays a huge role in Seattle’s cargo shipping trade. King County International Airport-Boeing Field is another source of cargo shipping, with small passenger aircraft frequenting the airport as well.

Georgetown is also the birthplace of Seattle’s famed Rainier Beer. There is a distinctly gritty, steampunk, unpretentious vibe in the neighborhood which I adore. Make sure to spend some time in Georgetown during your next visit to Seattle. Here are my top five things to do in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood:

1. Hat ‘n’ Boots (Oxbow Park)

It’s kitschy, it’s quirky, it’s a giant hat and boots! True to our eco-friendly reputation, Seattle is a master of repurposing. In the Wallingford neighborhood, we have the famous Gas Works Park, which is a gasification plant repurposed into a park. In Georgetown is the lesser-known Hat ‘n’ Boots, which is a former gas station repurposed into a park.

Built in the 1950s, the original gas station sat under the hat, and the boots were both restrooms.² Now, the hat serves as a park shelter and kids like to climb on the boots.

Gessner Mansion

While visiting Oxbow Park, cross Carleton Street to check out the outside of the Gessner Mansion. It’s a former brothel that’s supposedly haunted.

2. Georgetown Trailer Park Mall

Whether you’re looking for vintage wares, original art, or even a place to get married, Georgetown Trailer Park Mall has you covered. Take a gander at the old timey trailers, vibrantly colored and filled with all kinds of knick-knacks.

Low Rider Cookie Co. serves delicious sweets in a vintage trailer, and Shotgun Wedding Chapel offers affordable wedding services in a repurposed shipping container.

3. Georgetown Morgue

What could be a better place to build a haunted house than the old Georgetown Morgue? Not only was this a morgue, but it was allegedly the site of some grisly crimes. The most shocking legend regarding the morgue is that in the 1960s, armed intruders forced nine employees into the crematorium and burned them alive³.

While the haunted house portion of Georgetown Morgue is only open seasonally, the business owners have opened year -round escape rooms in the building. One of the escape rooms has a Georgetown Morgue theme.

4. Breweries and Wineries

Georgetown has a long history regarding drinking establishments. When Prohibition hit Seattle, Georgetown, which was a separate city at the time, encouraged Seattleites to visit their 24-hour bars.¹  

The original Rainier Brewery is located on Airport Way S. While the building is no longer a brewery, the historical outer architecture remains. The building now has office space for lease and is also a small events venue.

Never fear because Georgetown has several operational breweries where you can drink your fill. Check out Georgetown Brewing Co., Great Notion Brewing, or Jellyfish Brewing Company.

If wine is your preference, Georgetown has plenty of that too. My favorite is House of Smith Jet City. While tasting a delicious selection of wines, you can watch planes take off from Boeing Field with Mt. Rainier standing majestically in the background. Fitting the theme of repurposing, House of Smith Jet City Winery building is a former Dr. Pepper bottling plant. The vibe is industrial chic.

Jules Maes Saloon in Georgetown claims to be the oldest bar in Seattle. It began serving alcohol (mainly to fisherman and lumberjacks working in the area) in 1888.⁴   Channel your inner frontiersman and relax here after a long day.

5. Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery/Georgetown Records

When wandering Georgetown, be sure to peruse the shelves of Fantagraphics and Georgetown Records. These two businesses share a space and there’s something for everyone. There’s a wide variety of obscure books, records, comics, and magazines. Fantagraphics is also a comics publisher, so they know their stuff.

In the same building, but in the suite next door is All City Coffee. Take the books you purchased and enjoy some reading with a frothy cappuccino. Fun fact: Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” music video was filmed in Georgetown, and All City Coffee was one of the filming locations.

In Closing

As you can see, there’s plenty to keep you busy in Georgetown. Don’t miss out on this hidden gem of a neighborhood. Add Georgetown to your itinerary for your next visit to Seattle.

References

1. Wilma, D. (2001, February 10). Seattle Neighborhoods: Georgetown — Thumbnail History. Historylink. https://www.historylink.org/File/2975
2. Hat n’ Boots. (n.d.). Roadside America. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2235
3. Morgue History. (n.d.). Seattle Haunts. https://seattlehaunts.com/morgue-history/
4. About Us. (n.d.) Jules Maes Saloon. https://www.julesmaessaloon.com/about/