Skip to content

Food & Drink

Read More ›

Backstory: Seattle’s Tucked Away Waterfall Garden Park Stands out for Its Unlikely Story

This hidden pocket park is an ode to the origins of a parcel delivery service

Cropped_UPS_Waterfall_0061

This article originally appeared in the July 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.

This article appears in print in the July 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.

The Landmark: Waterfall Garden Park
The Location: Pioneer Square, 219 Second Ave. S

The Backstory: In a neighborhood full of historic sites, Waterfall Garden Park stands out for its unlikely story. The tiny park—hidden behind very tall fences—features an artificial waterfall, a Japanese garden, and several tables and chairs, offering visitors an escape from the hustle and bustle of the streets for a few minutes of serenity. But before it was a garden, it was the site of a different kind of respite: a saloon. Out of the basement of this bar, a young James Casey began a package delivery service in 1907, first making deliveries on foot and by bicycles and then by a Model T Ford. Today, that business is United Parcel Service. Casey credited much of his success to his mother, and in tribute to her, he started the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which is dedicated to providing care and opportunities to children whose parents aren’t able to do so. It was this foundation that eventually put Waterfall Garden Park on the map in 1978, and the Casey Foundation continues to care for it. More than just a small park, this green space commemorates UPS workers of the past century and the spirit of the man who started it all. 

Your Guide to Halloween in Seattle and Beyond

Your Guide to Halloween in Seattle and Beyond

The Pacific Northwest was made for this time of year. Here’s how to celebrate it.

It’s spooky season in Washington, which means haunted farms, fall festivals, pumpkin carving, costume contests for pets and people alike, and more. Here are some of the best ways to celebrate Halloween in Seattle and beyond. Halloween Fun and Frights in Snohomish October 10-11, 16-18, 22-25, 29-31, November 1 Stocker Farms Visiting a pumpkin patch…

5 Cozy Fall Outings

5 Cozy Fall Outings

Sweater weather is here. These five adventures make a strong case for getting out and embracing it.

Autumn is the absolute best. I start pulling out sweaters and scarves before the weather even remotely justifies it, then spend weeks happily overdressed. I love the whole production—noodle soups, spicy drinks, crunchy leaves, dark afternoons,  fogged-up windows. Bring it on! Here are five ways to make the most of every minute. 1. Dates after…

Soapbox Project Founder Nivi Achanta Centers Community and Joy in Climate Justice

Soapbox Project Founder Nivi Achanta Centers Community and Joy in Climate Justice

The Seattle organizer shares why taking action helps her stay hopeful—and how anyone can get started. 

If you were asked to envision what the world could look like in the future, you might take a page out of a dystopian book. But what about imagining a future that feels more hopeful, one where you have access to reliable transit, green spaces, and opportunities to gather in community with others? That’s exactly…

Remember When the Eastside Felt Like a Road Trip?

Remember When the Eastside Felt Like a Road Trip?

Months after the Sound Transit 2 Line began crossing Lake Washington, Seattle and the Eastside feel a whole lot closer.

There’s a particular kind of optimism and happiness you feel when a city decides to connect itself to its own future. World-class cities invest in the invisible things that make everything else possible. They make it easier for ideas to collide, for workers to access opportunity, for culture to flow. The East–West light rail Crosslake…