Its Landmark Status
The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board designated the Queen Anne Library a city landmark in 2003 through Ordinance 121101, and the building carries City of Seattle landmark number 245.
That status places the library in fine company. Queen Anne is home to 29 official Seattle landmarks, including a dozen historic houses, and several stand within a few blocks of the library. To see how it fits into the wider picture, browse the full citywide list in our guide to all landmarks in Seattle.
Plan Your Visit and Check Hours
As an active branch, the library keeps to the Seattle Public Library schedule, and hours can shift around holidays or system updates. Check the Seattle Public Library before you go for current Queen Anne Library hours, services and any closures.
You will find the library on W Garfield St in the residential western part of the hill. Queen Anne is known for its steep streets, with seven of the city's twenty steepest on its slopes along with about 120 public staircases, so wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk between sites.
A Cluster of Landmarks on W Garfield St
Spend an hour wandering the blocks around the library for an easy self-guided walk through the hill's past. Start with two landmarks less than a tenth of a mile away, both tied to the early days of telephone service:
- Sunset Telephone & Telegraph/Queen Anne Masonic Temple, under 0.1 mile away
- Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Garfield Exchange, under 0.1 mile away
West Queen Anne Elementary School
Stroll about 0.1 mile from the library to reach the former West Queen Anne Elementary School, another designated landmark. The school closed in 1981, when fewer families with children lived on the hill, and the building now holds condominium apartments. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Historic Houses a Short Walk Away
Keep going to see several landmark homes within a third of a mile of the library:
- C. H. Black House and Gardens, 0.2 mile
- Stuart/Balcom House, 0.3 mile
- McFee/Klockzien House, 0.3 mile
West Queen Anne Playfield
When you are ready for a break from history, head to West Queen Anne Playfield, about 0.2 mile from the library. The park offers a community center, an indoor swimming pool, and baseball and softball fields.
Explore West Queen Anne
The library belongs to West Queen Anne, one of the sub-neighborhoods of the larger Queen Anne district in northwestern Seattle. The city's early elite favored the hill for building mansions, which is why you will pass so many historic homes nearby. For more places to eat, walk and explore, turn to our West Queen Anne neighborhood guide.
