This site is devoted to providing as complete and valuable information about Mercer Island history as is available, its goal to be the prime site for history buffs and researchers.

Brief History

Just over five miles long and two miles wide,  Mercer Island lies in Lake Washington east of the City of Seattle and west of the City of Bellevue. About 22,000 people make it their home. Settlement of the island by non-Native Americans began in the late 1870's. The island was named after Thomas one of the three pioneering Mercer brothers from Illinois, all of whom had great influence in the Seattle area. Although none of the brothers lived on Mercer Island, they would often hunt and explore throughout the island's secluded forests. The early settlers traveled by rowboats to the neighboring community of Seattle to pick up necessities. An occasional boat would drop off items that were too large to transport by rowboat.

Because of the inconveniences  of island living, settlement lagged until C.C. Calkins platted the town of East Seattle, having purchased 22,000 acres. That's nearly three percent of the island's total acreage. In 1891 he built a luxurious resort on the western side of the island. This spurred the building of a ferry dock and small streamers began to make regular trips. This availability of  transportation attracted more residents. Ferry travel continued until July 2, 1940 when the floating bridge from Mercer Island to Seattle was opened.

Today eight lanes of Interstate 90 connect Mercer Island with Seattle and Bellevue.  It includes two side-by-side floating bridges that link Seattle and Mercer Island, a boon for commuters and shoppers.

Mercer Island is primarily a single-family residential community. A commercial business district and multi-family dwellings are concentrated at the northern end. However, the northern end on the other side of Interstate 90 is also a single-family residential community as well as being the site of Luther Burbank Park, which is city-owned.  

To learn more about Mercer Island demographics, click here.

Our historical highlights include:

• Archival information on the original concrete floating bridge
• The early settlement of East Seattle, a community on Mercer Island
• Early community clubs on Mercer Island

Click here for a map of the Seattle area.


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Copyright © 2001-2011 Mercer Island Historical Society
Web Design and Development: Emerson Kennedy

Upcoming Meetings

March 18, 2013, 1 PM
Bruce Fletcher, Director, Parks and Rec, and his management team will provide a presentation regarding their roles at the City's Parks and Rec Department. They will discuss programs, events, and give an update of upcoming projects.

April 15, 2013, 1 PM
Wendy Funicello of Seattle Children's Hospital Guild, and members of the Mercer Island Guild will discuss their fundraising project for Children's Hospital. They took over the Mercer Island Phone Directory in 1942 and and have raised more than $3.5 to support uncompensated care.

May 20th, 2013, 1 PM
Scott Groenberg, the Director of Mercer Island Development Services, will discuss his perspective on how City Planning on Mercer Island has Changed since the 1980's.

All meetings are held at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center 8236 SE 24th Mercer Island, 98040. For directions, click here. Or call 275.7609.

For more information call 206. 232.6187  

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