The summer after my Sophomore year, I had the opportunity to take a Honors 394: Metropolis. In this class, we explored Seattle and Portland, and I learned to see them in a different light. We learned about the history of these cities and how it shaped their physical and social aspects in the present day through primary texts written throughout the process of urbanization.
When I first moved to Seattle to come to UW, I didn't realize how narrow my view of the city was. This class enabled me to see Seattle from many different perspectives. I was exposed to Seattle's accomplishments and faults, and how it is experienced by different communities. The historical and social perspectives of Seattle that I gained during this class will stick with me and shape the way I view this ever-evolving city during my time at UW and beyond.Â
Honors 394 Metropolis class blog: http://honors394-summer2016.blogspot.com/
Throughout the class, we wrote journal entries on various different historical architectural sites within the city. Below, is my entry on the Burke Gilman Trail.
The Burke-Gilman Trail is a 20-mile recreational trail for pedestrians and cyclists that winds its way from Golden Gardens Park to the Sammamish River Trail. Many people walk or ride along it every day, but few know its history. What is now known as the Burke-Gilman Trail was once a working railway line. Thomas Burke and Daniel Gilman set out to create this rail line through Seattle in 1885 with the hopes of establishing Seattle as a major center for transportation and trade. The railway traded hands between companies throughout the years and was eventually abandoned in the 1970’s. The city of Seattle was quick to recognize the space’s potential and started the process of making it into a walking and biking trail. The original 12-mile trail ran from Gas Work’s Park to Tracey Owen Station, but was recently extended to the nearly 20 miles it is today.
The Burke-Gilman trail can be seen as an example of how industry shaped the city, and how that influence can still be felt today due to the trail’s continued use as a transportation route (now used by Seattle residents rather than for the transportation of goods and resources.) The Burke-Gilman trail contributes majorly to the essence of what the city ofSeattle is all about. Seattle is very connected to nature and the environment, and as a result is also a very pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly city. The trail is not just merely a means of transportation, but it also connects Seattle residents with nature, as it traces its way along the waterfront and goes through or near many of Seattle’s parks. Not only did the original railway help earn Seattle a place in the nation’s economy and trade system, but it al soenabled Seattle to grow into the city it is today. By cutting out this space throughout thecity, the railway laid the groundwork for what has become a popular and defining asset to Seattle and its residents’ ways of life.