Find Irish heritage just outside of Seattle

You don’t always have to visit a museum to find out about an area’s history.

For Seattle historian Feliks Banel, sometimes you just need to visit “the windshield museum.”

“If you drive around, get off the road, take a look around, you might find something: like this Saint Patrick Cemetery (in Kent,)” says Banel.

The five-acre cemetery overlooks the Kent Valley. The land was donated by Sarah and Richard O’Connell in 1885, to the Corps of Catholic Bishops of Nisqually, which later became the Archdiocese of Seattle.

“(The O’Connells) saw a need to have a cemetery for Irish Americans, mostly Irish Catholics,” says Banel.

In the 19th century, cemeteries were much more like parks, according to Banel. People would visit their dead relatives, and then have a picnic as kids would play.

While Irish heritage is sometimes overshadowed in the Puget Sound region by larger populations of those with Norwegian or German roots, there is an Irish Heritage Club in Seattle. Banel says they’ve done wonderful work documenting Irish history, as well as running the St. Patrick’s Parade every year and hosting activities like Gaelic football.

Saint Patrick Cemetery hasn’t suffered the same fate as many other cemeteries – falling into disrepair after its founders passed away. Associated Catholic Cemeteries assumed responsibility of the cemetery in July 1989. The staff of Gethsemane Cemetery, Federal Way, provides maintenance and oversees operations and records.

Banel says the grounds are beautifully maintained and there is a gorgeous view of the valley. And you can even find some ornate tombstones and a 10-foot tall cross, like that next to the founders of O’Dea High School.

“By looking at places like this, all these details emerge as this history that’s just forgotten, we just take for granted – everything about Seattle being grunge and coffee and Boeing and stuff like that,” says Banel. “If you just go back a few layers deeper these places are just all over the place.”