Lake View Cemetery, atop Seattle's Capitol Hill, offers a commanding view of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountain Range, and is the final resting place for a number of local luminaries. The cemetery was established in 1872 as the Seattle Masonic Cemetery; it was renamed Lake View Cemetery in 1890. Many of Seattle's founders are buried here, including Dr. David Maynard (who named the city "Seattle" after his friend, Chief Sealth) and his wife Catherine; the Denny family, who had business interests in the city and helped found the University of Washington; Henry Yesler, who built Seattle's first sawmill; and his friend Princess Angeline, Chief Sealth's daughter. But the cemetery's main draw are the graves of martial arts star Bruce Lee, who lived in Seattle from 1959 to 1964, and his son, Brandon, who also found fame as a martial artist and actor. Bruce died in 1973. Two decades later, Brandon died, and was laid to rest next to his father. The area around the gravesites has been refurbished, with a small hedge and a bench. You'll nearly always find someone at the gravesites paying their respects.
Parking and public transportation at Lake View Cemetery
Parking is allowed on the cemetery grounds for short periods. There is also on street parking in the neighborhood. If traveling by bus the #10 makes a final stop near the cemetery's entrance.
Best and worst times to go to Lake View Cemetery
The cemetery is never very crowded, so any time the weather is fine is a good time to visit. There are more visitors on the anniversaries of Bruce and Brandon Lee's birth and death.
Admission to Lake View Cemetery
Admission is free. Cemetery hours 9 a.m. to dusk. Children under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
Must see/do at Lake View Cemetery
In addition to Bruce and Brandon Lee, Princess Angeline's grave is the most distinctive; the headstone is a granite boulder. The stone bench by the Whitebrook family graves is a pleasant place to take a break.
Other places to visit near Lake View Cemetery
The Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery is to the north of the Lake View Cemetery. Volunteer Park is immediately to the south; the park is home to the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Louisa Boren Park is across the street from the cemetery and offers some lovely views.
Insider tip for visitors to Lake View Cemetery
The cemetery's office is directly across the street from the main entrance; staff can help you locate a gravesite if you're having trouble. The guidebook The Pioneers of Lake View by Robert L. Ferguson is another useful resource to learn more about the personages buried at the cemetery.
Author's bio: Gillian G. Gaar is a Seattle-based freelancer who writes about music, entertainment, and travel.