The Counterbalance (Seattle, Washington)

USA / Washington / Seattle / Seattle, Washington
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One of the steepest slopes in Seattle, and definetly the tallest, rising over 450 feet in a span of eight blocks.

Named after the streetcar that used to run up and down the hill--when the car would reach either end of the Roy-to-Galer span, it would be attached to a large weight to help it safely travel up and down the hill.

The streetcar was demolished in 1940 to widen the road to two traffic lanes, but the name remains.

If it snows in Seattle, this street is closed, and people sometimes make homemade toboggans to slide down the hill.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   47°37'43"N   122°21'24"W

Comments

  • my grandfather gave up motorcycling after wiping out on the counterbalance around 1920ish. 60 years later, my own moped went out from under me one wet morning down on Harbor Ave's nasty railroad tracks. Lesson learned: approach perpendicular to tracks.
  • Yo. I found out about this from Fraiser. You may save my life in my future. Thanks man.
  • Ha! Me too.
  • Me too lol S1 episode 6 - The Crucible Ty crave tv!
  • found this out watching reruns of Frasier too. Love that show
  • Same here,just watching Frasier and decided to check it out! Now I know!
  • Seems Frasier made the Counterbalance famous!
  • ^ it has indeed - at least as far as London, England :-)
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This article was last modified 13 years ago