Lincoln Park had several names before it was purchased by the city in 1922. At one time, the park was named Fauntleroy Park. In 1857, an early surveyor of Puget Sound, Lt. George Davidson of the U.S. Coast Survey, was engaged to Ellinor Fauntleroy. He named the area around the ferry for his future father-in-law, W. H. Fauntleroy. Davidson named the Olympic peak Mt. Ellinor for his bride to be. He also named The Brothers, Mt. Constance and Mt. Rose for members of his future family.
Seattle City Council approved the acquisition of Fauntleroy Park on the recommendation of the Olmsted Brothers who designed major elements of Seattle's Park system. Unfortunately, the Olmstead's were never commissioned to develop a plan for this 130 acre wooded area. The park landscape most likely evolved under the hand of various Parks gardeners, without benefit of an overall plan. As a result, an interesting mix of native and ornamental plant species comingle in the park today.
While conifers were logged from this area to supply masts for the shipbuilding industry, Lincoln Park still has stands of coniferous and deciduous trees large enough to support an array of wildlife species. These trees make up a forest of more complex plant communities, meaning those with multiple layers of vegetation and different types of vegetation. Diversity of bird species increases when there is more foliage and more vegetative cover. The shrubs and forbs along with the trees provide a greater variety of wildlife habitat.
[edited from versions of the Lincoln Park Vegetation Management Plan and the from the files of Don Sherwood, 1916-1981, Park Historian]
Stroll through one of Seattle's most beautiful parks on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. We will hunt for rare plants in Seattle, including Pyrola asarafolia - Pink Pyrola, Sanicula crassifolius - Pacific Sankeroot and Linnea borealis - Twinflower. We will also practice winter plant identification and check for the Barred Owls.
Please register by December 21.
#21024 Sat, Dec 22 2-4 p.m.
Fee: $8
