Just inland from the [Alki] point is a small hill of about 75 feet (23 m). This hill is one of the Seattle area’s few bedrock outcroppings, and possibly the only one outside of the Duwamish River valley. It constitutes a piece of the 23-million-year-old sedimentary Blakeley Formation.
On September 28, 1851, John Low and Leander (Lee) Terry, accompanied by David Denny, selected Alki Point for their Donation Land Claims.
The Denny Party landed at Alki Point November 13, 1851, and platted a settlement of six blocks of eight lots, calling the settlement “New York Alki”.
For in what regards manners, every one is so full of his own wisdom, that there might be found as many reformers as heads, if any were allowed to take upon themselves the task of mending them, except those whom God has constituted the supreme rulers of his people, or to whom he has given sufficient grace and zeal to be prophets; and although my speculations greatly pleased myself, I believed that others had theirs, which perhaps pleased them still more.