Bellevue’s Coal Creek Park borders the Cougar Mountain Wildlife Park in King County. Coal Creek is the city of Bellevue’s largest natural resource park and was once the site of a thriving mining town. There are still mine shafts, exposed coal streams and mining equipment visible in the park as well as building remnants from different buildings and mine operations in the town – the hotel, a coal bunker, the wood flume, which directed Coal Creek, and a railroad turntable foundation.
The first settlement, Old Newcastle, was located near today’s 136th Avenue Southeast, just west of the golf course. By 1890 there were approximately 500 residents. By 1920 population was close to 1,000.
In 1863, a survey party led by Edwin Richardson discovered eight bands of “stone cole” while working up a stream from Lake Washington. Hundreds of people soon flocked to the region intent on earning a living as coal miners.
When the last mines closed in 1963, over 11 million tons of coal had been extracted. Coal was King County’s first large industry, helping Seattle become a major port city, as it shipped coal to San Francisco from 1870 to 1930.
Today the park offers lots of great hiking trails, easy access to Cougar Mountain and by the end of 2013, seven new interpretive signs, thanks to 4-Culture and the Eastside Heritage Center.
Heritage Corner is a feature in the Bellevue Reporter. To learn more about Bellevue and Eastside history contact the Eastside Heritage Center at 425-450-1049 or visit EastsideHeritageCenter.org.
