History
Queen Anne, once an overgrown forest, attracted rich settlers who made their fortune during the Alaskan Gold Rush. These rich settlers built lovely mansions that grace the slopes of Queen Anne today. The neighborhood was named for the Queen Anne architectural style of its early Victorian mansions.

Description
Queen Anne is located north of downtown, and is considered a neighborhood of choice for those who work in Downtown Seattle or on the Eastside due to its strategic location. Rentals in upper Queen Anne surround Queen Anne Ave., the main thoroughfare, and are also found in surrounding blocks. Upper Queen Anne Ave. is sprinkled with specialty shops, ranging from upscale dress shops to local pubs. Rentals in the lower Queen Anne, surrounding Seattle Center, are also much sought after. There you will find many exotic restaurants and coffee shops in abundance. The west side of Queen Anne faces Magnolia, and the Interbay golf course. This industrial area has fewer apartment buildings, and more fast-food joints and retail shops. On the eastern part of Queen Anne, the area is mainly commercial but rentals on the Lake Union side boast of beautiful views of the water. the Seattle Center area.

Residents
Upper Queen Anne is home to long-time residents and has a higher number of residential homes. The lower part of Queen Anne has more rentals and tends to attract young professionals, students, and artists. Queen Anne is a mixture of people from every income bracket. It is considered a high rent district in Seattle and its plentiful apartment buildings and historical mansions draw renters and home buyers alike into the area.

Rental Housing
Queen Anne offers a variety of rental choices. Due to its close proximity to downtown, it is one of our more expensive neighborhoods. Rental pricing is about the same as Capitol Hill at $1.25/sq. ft. to $2.00/sq. ft. Queen Anne offers a reasonable number of vintage properties. Most of the newer development has occurred at the base of Queen Anne Hill, around the Seattle Center and on the east side of the hill. Very few newer apartment properties have been developed on the south slope and the top of Queen Anne Hill.

Fun Stuff
The Seattle Center is located at the base of Queen Anne and many consider it the cultural heart of Seattle. It is home to the three major performing arts organizations: the Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Repertory Theatre. It is also home to the Seattle Children’s Museum and the Pacific Science Center. Several professional sports teams also call the Seattle Center home; the Seattle Sonics basketball team (NBA), Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team (WHL), and Seattle Storm basketball team (WNBA) all host their home games at the Key Arena.

On June 23, 2000 the Experience Music Project opened at the Seattle Center. Love it or hate it, the unique, Frank Gehry-designed steal structure (described by the Seattle Times as “the wreck of the Partridge Family bus”) is now an unmistakable landmark of Seattle Center.  This interactive music museum combines hands-on experiences with interpretive exhibits that tell the story of the creative process in American popular music. EMP is the first institution of its kind.

Bumbershoot, Seattle’s favorite music and art festival, takes place at the Seattle Center every Labor Day weekend. It is one of the most innovative, inexpensive and inspiring arts festivals in the country, with a four-day showcase of extraordinary art, culture and entertainment. Enjoy music, theatre, dance, film and video, literary arts, comedy, kids arts, and more. The Northwest Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center is the annual ethnic, folk, and traditional art festival. Artists create an ethnic extravaganza embracing music and dance performances, visual arts and folklore exhibits.

Our city’s most famous landmark, The Space Needle, is located at the Seattle Center and many make the surprisingly short elevator trip to the top for a fantastic view of the. It additionally holds a unique, revolving restaurant.  At the base of the Needle, an amusement park and fun center is present. Queen Anne also has numerous parks that circle the hill offering relaxing scenic overlooks. Kerry Park, on the south slope, is a favorite among locals and tourists for its magnificent view of the Seattle skyline, Elliott Bay and Mt. Rainier.