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 21,000 people make it their home. Settlement of the island by non-Native Americans began in the late 1870's. The island was named after 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 tramp steamer 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 county-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 © 2001-2006 Mercer Island Historical Society
Web Design and Development: Emerson Kennedy
Webmaster: webmaster@mihistory.org

Click here for more information about our programs.

Our Sister City in France!
Learn about our Sister City FranceLeman. 

Our Newsletter
Click here to go to our newsletter page to see past copies of our newsletter. 

Post your memories on our Message Board!
Our message board is an area where you can share your stories about Mercer Island. Others can read and also comment on their memories too! Click on Message Board from the main menu or click here. This is a great place to record history!

 IVY Brigade
Ivy Brigade volunteers meet once a month at selected Mercer Island parks to strip ivy from trees and clear it away from the trunks.  With the support of the Mercer Island Parks and Recreation crew which provides equipment and hauling, this group has made significant progress in parks and other areas.

The Brigade meets once a month on different days of the week from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. All are welcome.  Bring gloves, clippers, loppers and a pruning saw if you have one.

Questions?  Call Mercer Island Parks and Recreation at 236-3545 and watch for information in the Mercer Island Reporter for directions to the next meeting place.