Seattle's "Lost" Potter's Field
Learn the tragedy and mysteries of Seattle's "lost" Potter's Field, also known as the Duwamish Cemetery, and the 3,260 people buried there from 1876-1912. The dredging and straightening of the Duwamish River triggered the exhumation and cremation of 3,260 people buried at the Potter's Field. Their ashes were mishandled, with no final resting place provided for these lost souls.
Learn more, get involved, and help unearth these stories lost over the last 100 years.
Asahel Curtis photo, courtesy of WA State Historical Society
Potter's Field Reports and Presentations
Click here to see the 2025 MOHAI History Cafe event (January 15, 2025)
Researchers Elke and Cari are available to share how they uncovered the mysteries surrounding the Duwamish Cemetery aka The Potter's Field. The presentation shares the Potter's Field history and a few stories of some of those buried in the Potter's Field. ​Elke Hautala and Cari Simson led archival research of historic newspapers and other documents to uncover histories hidden beneath our feet.
They've presented at the 2023 and 2025 Pacific Northwest Historians Guild in September 2023 - you can watch the video of their presentation here, and learn about the Guild here.
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Contact us for a link to our report (2023): "The Duwamish Cemetery: Georgetown's Potter's Field."
An updated report and self-guided walking tour will be available in 2026. ​
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Potter's Field Memorial Project
We seek to organize a call for artists to create a public memorial for the 3,260 buried at the Duwamish Cemetery. We seek to gather input from tour guests, volunteers, and other community partners on goals for the memorial, and then support a community-led process to develop a call for artists.
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We envision a physical memorial to mark the location in the vicinity of the old Poor Farm site and/or the former Duwamish Cemetery area near today’s Duwamish River, as well as an online presence to increase visibility and access.
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Social Impact of a Podcast
On our podcast, we try to uncover and elevate the stories of hidden, lost or marginalized voices. We seek to illustrate the links between these uncovered histories and the modern connections to people living and working in the Seattle area today.
We recognize that many in our communities are struggling right now to find work, affordable housing, keep their health care, or put food on the table.
If you are in a position to give, please consider a donation to one of these organizations, or contribute to a group in the area where you live.​​​
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King County's Indigent Remains Program provides burial for King County residents who have died without resources or family to claim their remains for a proper burial.
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Share - Wheel are self-organized, democratic, grassroots organizations of homeless and formally homeless individuals.
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Women in Black host silent witnessing vigils honoring the lives of homeless individuals who have died while living on the streets of Seattle.
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Cairn Canine Detection uses highly specialized human remains detection K9s and search planning tools to locate and document human remains.
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Puget Sound Labor Agency food bank in Georgetown
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Georgetown Tiny House Village: With 46 tiny house units, case management services, kitchen, laundry, and restroom/shower facilities Georgetown Village provides a safer place for individuals and couples to recover from homelessness and transition to permanent housing.
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Watershed Community Development is building affordable housing in Georgetown for workers, artists and others impacted by displacement
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Duwamish River Community Coalition: provides resources, knowledge, and action to build more just environmental futures.
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Friends of Georgetown History: is a non profit 501(c3) organization dedicated to celebrating the neighborhood of Georgetown's many contributions to Seattle's early years.
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Read Jacob Neville's research report, "Who Gets to Speak: The Role a Media Outlet Plays in Shaping the Narratives About Homelessness in the United States (2025)"