Experience Historical kent

The Greater Kent Historical Society

The Greater Kent Historical Society and Museum was formed in 1992 with the intent of promoting the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of the greater Kent area.
In 1996, the City of Kent purchased the historic Bereiter house for use as the Kent Historical Museum.
It was the home of the city of Kent's 3rd mayor Emil Bereiter 1912-1913.
Within the Mill Creek Neighborhood Historic District designated by King County Landmarks Commission on November 20, 2014.

Historic Downtown

Kent’s Historic Downtown area was first permanently settled by homesteaders in the mid-1850s. The first cash crop was hops.
· Kent officially incorporated on May 28, 1890 with a population of 763. It was the second city, following Seattle, to incorporate in King County.
The City was originally called Titusville. There is still a 'Titusville Station' sign on Gowe Street near First Avenue.
Kent Downtown Partnership formed over 20 years ago to help revitalize historical downtown Kent.

GKHS, in partnership with KDP, has placed historic plaques on 13 buildings in Kent Downtown. Most of these buildings have been here since Kent was first established.

Take a stroll around the downtown area and see if you can find the plaques. Kent offers murals by Danny Pierce, sculptures, parks and much more to delight to the eye. Restaurants and clever shops are in abundance.

Mill Creek Neighborhood

The Mill Creek neighborhood platted in 1890 reflects the history of early Kent
4 past mayor’s lived in the neighborhood: Calhoun 1911, Bereiter 1912-1913, Murkar 1927-1930, and Dunbar 1943-1946
The neighborhood displays many architectural style homes from the first decade of the 20th Century: prairie, craftsman, and colonial revival
Home of the first rural postal carrier of Kent
Past presidents of Kent Historical Society: Jack Becvar 1992-2002 and John Mergens 2003-2007
Designated as a historic neighborhood district on November 20, 2014 by the King County Landmarks Commission

Soos Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center

29308 132nd Ave. SE, Auburn, WA

Visit the Heritage Center that celebrates the history of the early pioneers that settled the Soos Creek plateau.
Soos Creek Botanical Garden is a unique pairing of garden and history.
Stroll through eleven beautifully designed gardens on twenty-two acres.
Enjoy quiet contemplation of nature in the garden and woodlands.

Neely-Soames Homestead

5311 S. 237 Place (along the Green River Trail) Kent, WA

One of the oldest homes in Kent- dates back to 1885.
Listed on the State Register of Historic Homes in 1977.
Settler David Neely’s daughter Ruby was born in the house in 1895; after marrying Harry Soames, lived there until her death in 1986.
Grounds and gardens reflect a farmstead typical of Kent’s early days; maintained by members and friends of the King County Master Gardeners.
During annual open house, view historical photos and the bed Ruby Neely was born in, hand-carved by her father
Watch wool spinners in period dress.

Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park

742 East Titus Street, Kent, WA

Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks is an internationally acclaimed artwork by Bauhaus master Herbert Bayer.
The Earthworks is a public park, a storm water detention dam, and a modernist masterpiece.
Since its installation in 1982, the Earthworks has been lauded for its fusion of art and infrastructure, making it a powerful precedent for engineers, landscape architects and artists.
In 2008, the Earthworks became the City of Kent's first landmark.

Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum

5917 South 196th Street, Kent, WA

The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum is the nation's only public museum dedicated solely to powerboat racing.
The museum features an incredible collection of vintage hydroplanes spanning seven decades, including boats that have won 17 Gold Cups.
The nation's primary resource for historical and educational information on hydroplane racing.
Over 100 years of racing history on display including boats, motors, films, photos and uniforms.

Saar Pioneer Cemetery

91st and SE 212th in Kent, WA

The first burial in this pioneer cemetery was Margaret Eunice Olmstead Saar in 1873.
There was no other established cemetery in this area contrary to popular rumor so her husband, Peter Saar, continued tradition and buried her on their property.
Mr. Saar sold this property to Mary L. Meeker in 1882 reserving the one-acre cemetery. John Nelson bought the cemetery from Mr. Saar in 1887 and then sold it to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church and their successors.
It is a historic landmark and closed to burials.

HilcreST Burial Park

1005 Reiten Road, Kent WA

This pioneer cemetery was founded originally near the center of the Samuel Russell Donation Claim (Canyon Mill Company, Lumber and Building Materials) in 1886.
In 1890 property was acquired on Knob Hill and many of those interred in the valley cemetery were reinterred here.
There are many Kent pioneers interred here along with Civil War and Spanish American Veterans.
It remains an active cemetery.

Meridian Cemetery

27221 156th Ave. SE, Kent, WA

The original Meridian Cemetery is believed to be the first cemetery on the East Hill and was used from about 1875 or 1880 until 1891.
This original cemetery is no longer there.
The Meridian Cemetery Association was later formed and purchased the current Meridian Cemetery property from a Japanese couple from Seattle .
According to tombstone inscriptions the first burial took place in September of 1908.
It remains an active cemetery.

Suise Creek Cemetery

SE 256th St. & 132ndAve. SE, Kent, WA

Also known as Soos Creek was established in 1903 at this current location.
Around 1900 some thought it necessary to have a cemetery that was more readily accessible to the neighborhood so it split; part becoming the Meridian Cemetery Association and the rest Suise Creek Cemetery.
In 1902, the present property was purchased at $10 an acre and, in 1903, the bodies were transported by wagon to the new cemetery.
It remains an active cemetery.

St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery

9231 S. 240th Street Kent, WA

The earliest burials appear to be that of Morgan O’Brien and his wife, Catherine, who both died in 1880 according to the tombstone inscription.
Mr. Richard O’Connell, an immigrant from Limerick, Ireland, donated the land for the cemetery. Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, was an obvious name chosen for this cemetery, where one can read from the headstones the names of Mullen, Costello, O’Grady; and the places of Tipperary, Donegal, and Galway.
It remains an active cemetery.

Saint Anthony Chapel

310 Third Ave S. Kent, WA

St. Anthony Parish was built in 1924.
The stained glass windows are original to the building and were created by Povey Studios.
The chapel was dedicated by the Most Reverend Bishop O’Dea on February 22, 1925.
70 years later (June 1994) the Congregation of Saint Anthony’s Chapel broke ground on Holy Spirit Parish which was planned to give double the space available in Saint Anthony’s Chapel.

Side Tracks Distillery

27010 78th Ave S, Kent, WA

· Located just upstream from the historical Alvord’s Landing a new barn was built in the style of the late 1800’s.
· Tour the barn and the surrounding farm.
· The added attraction of an old-world style distillery that uses produce grown on the farm to produce world class liqueurs from fruits, berries and herbs.
Those of age are welcome to try a taste of post- prohibition libations.