Redmond Historical Society
Scavenger Hunt
Embedded Files
We're glad you're exploring Redmond's unique history with us today.
Is it too hot, or too rainy? It's okay to skip stops.
Each stop includes optional discussion questions.
Finished early? Look at the bottom of the page for an bonus challenge!
Need a break? Bathrooms are marked on the map in blue.
Redmond United Methodist Church:
16540 NE 80th St, Redmond, WA 98052
The Redmond Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1906 and was a gathering place for community members from miles around, with some families even rowing down the Sammamish River from their homes to attend services!
The building was moved to its current location in 1926. Though there have been several additions, the original 1906 building is still visible, including its steeple.
Do you know which part is the steeple? The __ __ __ L inside would have been rung to mark the time of day, announce the beginning or end of services, and acknowledge important occasions.
Today it is Redmond's oldest surviving church building.
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The BELL inside the steeple would have been run to announce important events, call people to services and more.
Discussion Questions:
Why would you move a building? As the town grew and more roads were added, members of the church complained that it was too noisy, but wanted to keep their building. Can you imagine any other reasons someone might move a building?
Churches can be important community gathering places. Even today, this church serves a weekly meal that is free to anyone in the community. Can you think of other gatherings that may have happened here over the years? What are some other places that people gather?
The Old Redmond Schoolhouse:
16600 NE 80TH ST, Redmond WA 98052
In 1875, Redmond's first school began in a small log cabin. In 1888, classes were moved to a Congregational Church. Over the next ten years, the town built and lost two schoolhouses to fires!
In 1908, a two-story schoolhouse was built at the site of present-day Anderson Park. The wooden structure had four classrooms and there was no indoor plumbing, so students used large outhouses that flanked the building.
This brick building, often called the "Old Redmond Schoolhouse" was built in 1922, to accommodate the growing number of students in the area.
At that time, the school was the largest brick building in R __ __ __ __ __ __ and one of the biggest elementary schools in the area.
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Think about where we are exploring today, or the community this building would have served! At that time, the school was the largest brick building in REDMOND.
Discussion Questions:
Redmond's first school buses were built using modified trucks, by students in the school's manual training classes. Can you imagine students building their own school buses today? What else might have been different about going to school in 1922?
At first, this building had just 12 rooms. It has been expanded over the years. Can you see any evidence of those changes? Hint: Look for a line in the brick wall facing the parking lot -- this is where one of the additions was made!
Anderson Park:
7802 168th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052
You’re standing in Redmond’s first park! It first opened in 1928 as Redmond City Park.
In 1938, the Federal Works Progress Administration made several lasting improvements to the park, including the construction of the two cabins and picnic shelter you see today.
One of Redmond’s first organized groups of volunteers, The Junior Nokomis Club, helped raise funds in order to purchase the materials used to build the cabins.
When they were finished, the two structures were used as City offices (before Redmond had an official City Hall) and the first Senior Center.
In 1949, the park was renamed Albert Anderson Memorial Park in honor of the city’s first Park Superintendent.
What are the cabins named?
A __ __ __ __ House and Fullard House
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Look for the blue signs in front of the cabins. These identify them as the ADAIR House and Fullard House.
Discussion Questions:
The Fullard House and Adair House are both log cabins, but were built in different styles. What differences can you notice?
Can you find the statue "Aurora and Diane” by Lisa Sheets? Why do you think this was added to the park? What does it symbolize about the park?
Bill Brown's Garage/Mechanics Bank:
16389 Redmond Way, Redmond, WA 98052
When this building was built in 1920, C __ __ __ were becoming more popular around Redmond, and more traffic was coming through town on local highways. Originally owned by William "Bill" Brown, it operated as a gas station and repair shop, with room for 20 cars.
During his time as mayor of Redmond, Bill Brown's motto was that "All roads lead to Redmond". This included the 1913 Yellowstone Trail, an early road that crossed through Redmond as it stretched across the entire United States!
Since that time, new roads have been built to accommodate heavier traffic in the area, including the interstate.
And, that's not all that's changed! This building once had a tower above it with a bell that could be used to call the volunteer fire department. At that time, Redmond had no full-time police or fire fighters!
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CARS were becoming more popular in Redmond at this time, so the town needed a garage and gas station to service them.
Discussion Questions:
Can you imagine a city without cars? What do you think was different before cars became more popular in Redmond? What do you think people used instead?
Bill Brown's garage has several unique features, including several decorative brick elements such as "pigeonhole" corners made of uncut bricks. Which elements can you find?
Bill Brown’s Saloon/The Matador:
7824 Leary Way NE, Redmond, WA 98052
This building was built in 1913 by William "Bill" Brown, who served as Mayor of Redmond for almost 30 years! It replaced a wooden building he had built just three years earlier.
The first floor of the building held a barbershop, a drug store, an ice cream parlor, an undertaker, and a saloon. Can you imagine all those places being in one building?
When Washington enacted a statewide prohibition on the manufacture and sale of alcohol in 1916, the saloon closed. Since that time, there have been many other occupants, including a makeshift City Hall where town council meetings and civil business took place.
Now this building is home to the Matador, but the outside of the building still has many historical features, including the black and white T __ __ __ __ by the front door.
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The black and white TILES by the front door are one of the building's many historical features.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Bill Brown replaced the original wooden building? Do you think a wooden building or a brick building would last longer?
Why do you think so many different businesses shared one space?
The Hotel Redmond:
7730 Leary Wy, Redmond, WA 98052
Emma McRedmond and her husband operated this 14-room building, built in the late 1890s, as a hotel. Most visitors to the area were loggers and miners, but the hotel is said to have entertained notable visitors as President William Howard Taft, and President Theodore Roosevelt.
Emma was the daughter of one of Redmond's earliest European settlers, Luke McRedmond. When she was just sixteen, she became the first woman to serve as postmaster, delivering mail throughout Redmond.
As one of Redmond’s 16 officially recognized Landmarks, this building has a plaque acknowledging its history. Find the plaque that includes the name of Emma McRedmond’s husband. What was his name?
Judge __ __ __ __ __
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The plaque to the left of the door lists the building Judge WHITE's home and hotel.
Discussion Questions:
Windows made prior to 1940 often have wavy glass, due to different manufacturing techniques. Take a close look. Can you spot any waves or a ripple effect?
Today, a sculpture called "Erratic" is across the street from the Hotel Redmond. This piece by John Fleming is made from 3,000 steel plates from salvaged from the Railroad that once crossed through Redmond -- right where the trail is today! How does this piece remind people of Redmond's history?
Signals at Redmond Central Connector Park:
NW of 7541 Leary Way, Redmond, WA 98052
This trail used to be a railroad track! The railroad first came to Redmond in 1888. It transported passengers, but was also used to bring goods in and out of Redmond.
The rails were removed in 1999, and their path has been converted into a trail that stretches almost 4 miles across Redmond.
Do you see a big piece of art? It’s called Signals. Artist John Fleming used signal __ I __ __ __ __, bridges, columns, ladders, and rails salvaged from the old railroad to make this piece.
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Artist John Fleming used signal LIGHTS, bridges, columns, ladders, and rails salvaged from the old railroad to make this piece.
Discussion Questions:
How do you think public art like this improves our community?
How do you think the railroad affected local businesses? Would it be easier to ship goods to larger cities like Seattle?
Redmond Trading Company/Half Price Books:
7805 Leary Way, Redmond, WA 98052
Originally built in 1908, the Redmond Trading Company replaced their wooden store with a brand-new brick building in 1910.
It was the first brick building in town and it was the town's largest business! The goods they sold included grains, hardware, and cloth. They also had containers of foods like beans, sugar, tapioca, and inexpensive "penny" candies.
Inside there was a large pot belly stove where people would often gather to read their mail, visit with friends, and play games like cards or checkers.
Later, as cars came to the area, the town's first underground gasoline tank was installed outside the building.
This building is still a store today. What do they sell there now?
__ __ __ __ S
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Look for the red sign over the door. Half Price Books sells many things, but specializes in BOOKS.
Discussion Questions:
The Redmond Trading Company was a "general store". General stores usual exist in rural areas, where there may not be many different kinds of stores to shop at, and offer a wide variety of items. Can you think of any other items a general store might carry?
Do you think the location of important businesses like this could have affected where Redmond's downtown area is today?
Redmond State Bank/Molly Moon’s:
7841 Leary Way NE, Redmond, WA 98052
Redmond State bank opened in this building in 1911.
When the bank first opened, many people in Redmond had never used a bank. Any money they saved would be kept out of sight at home, maybe even hidden in their attics!
Using a bank may have been a new idea to them, because it was the __ I __ __ __ bank in Redmond.
A 1928 addition, (now Molly Moon's!) housed Redmond’s first automatic telephone company. Before automated telephones, you had to speak to a switchboard operator to be connected to the correct line every time you made a phone call.
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It was a new idea to many folks, because it was the FIRST bank in Redmond.
Discussion Questions:
How many digits are in a telephone number today? 10! But, did you know telephone number used to have letters? All Redmond phone numbers used to start with "TU" or "Tucker" until they were changed to numbers in the early 1970s. What else might be different about how we use phones now?
The Stone House/Coastline Burgers:
16244 Cleveland St, Redmond, WA 98052
In 1916, Orson A. Wiley and his wife Emma Holmes built this bungalow style home with stones from local rivers and streams. How many stones do you think it took to build this house? No one knows for sure, but you can make a guess!
Orson Wiley also owned a livery stable and feed store nearby, where you could rent a wagon or carriage if you needed one. It had a living area upstairs, where Orson and his family stayed while they were building their stone house.
At this time there weren’t many cars in Redmond, so this served an essential purpose. What kind of animals do you think you would find at a Livery Stable?
__ O __ __ __ __
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HORSES would have been found at a livery stable. They were an important mod of transportation before cars gained popularity.
What are some reasons Orson and Emma might have used stones from local rivers and streams to build this house? Can you think of any advantages or disadvantages of using this material? For example, would stones be cheaper than other materials? Would it take longer?
This building has been many different businesses over the years. Can you think of some reasons it is a better location for a business, instead of a home?
Odd Fellows Hall /Redmond’s Bar & Grill:
7979 Leary Way, Redmond, WA 98052
Built in 1903, by Herman S. Reed, this building was originally constructed as a gathering hall to host dances, movies, and other community events.
A local chapter of the club called the “Odd Fellows” used the building as their meeting place for almost 50 years!
Their club’s unusual name is often thought to come from the fact that they had “odd” occupations, and so they weren’t able to join guilds or groups that supported workers with more common professions.
You can still spot the Odd Fellow’s logo on the front of the building. How many links are there in their chain logo?
__ H __ __ __
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Look at the top of the building, just under the roof. There are THREE links in the Odd Fellow's Chain logo.
Though the building was used to show movies, it didn't have any speakers! This wasn't a problem, since movies didn't have any spoken dialogue in 1927! Have you ever watched a "Silent" movie?
Why are community events, or fun places to spend your time important? Think about why you like going to movies, fairs, or other events.
BONUS CHALLENGE
Did you notice that some of the missing words have a bolded letter? Unscramble them to find the secret, hidden word
H I T A S O R I C L
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We hoped you learned something about these HISTORICAL Redmond landmarks today!
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