Winters House
Bellevue's only city-owned property on the National Register of Historic Places.
Quick facts
At a glance
- Neighborhood
- Downtown
- Phone
- +1-425-450-1049
Why you'll love it
An editor's take
It is a genuine hidden gem: quiet, free, deeply local, and paired with one of Bellevue's most beautiful natural settings. History lovers get the interpretive exhibits; everyone else gets a peaceful stop on the way to or from Mercer Slough Nature Park.
Highlights
What makes it special
- National Register historic residence
- Free admission
- Overlooks Mercer Slough Nature Park
- Small, well-curated local history exhibits
- Pairs with Mercer Slough boardwalks
What you'll experience
The visit, in detail
Ten to twenty minutes indoors reading well-produced panels on the strawberry-farming era, Japanese-American community history, and the origins of downtown Bellevue, followed by a short walk on the adjacent boardwalks. Weekday afternoons are the calmest window. Insider tip: combine with the Mercer Slough blueberry farm in July and August for a low-key, distinctly Bellevue morning.
Best time
When to visit
Late spring through early fall for the paired outdoor walk
Tuesday–Thursday afternoons are quietest
Saturday morning followed by a Mercer Slough walk
Nearby
What's around you
Arts & Culture nearby
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Eastside Heritage Center
Historical society preserving Eastside history.
Downtown
Foster/White Gallery
Pacific Northwest contemporary art gallery.
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Aronica Fine Arts Gallery
Independent gallery in Old Bellevue.
Downtown
Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival
Annual multi-venue jazz festival downtown.
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Family Activities nearby
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Chism Beach Park
Wooded Lake Washington beach with lifeguards in summer.
Old Bellevue
Enatai Beach Park
Lake Washington beach park with kayak rentals.
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Lake-to-Lake Trail
10-mile multi-use trail through Bellevue.
Crossroads
Bellevue Downtown Park
A 21-acre urban oasis in the heart of Bellevue with a signature waterfall, half-mile promenade, great lawn, and inclusive playground.
Downtown
Hotels nearby
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Hilton Bellevue
Full-service Hilton with Basil's Kitchen restaurant.
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Residence Inn by Marriott Bellevue Downtown
All-suite extended-stay with kitchens and breakfast.
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Seattle Marriott Bellevue
384-room Marriott in the heart of downtown.
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AC Hotel by Marriott Bellevue Downtown
European-inspired design hotel in downtown Bellevue.
Downtown
Restaurants nearby
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Bis on Main
4.7Old Bellevue's neighborhood-anchor dining room — Pacific Northwest bistro cooking, a serious wine list, and the special-occasion table on Main Street.
Old Bellevue
Meet the Moon
4.4All-day cafe with brunch favorites and a sunny patio.
Downtown
Monsoon East
4.5Modern Vietnamese with brunch dim sum and seasonal Northwest produce.
Old Bellevue
Wild Ginger
4.4Pan-Asian icon with satay, fragrant duck, and dim sum brunch.
Downtown
Coffee Shops nearby
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Main Street Coffee
4.5Local indie roaster on Main Street with a sunny patio.
Old Bellevue
Bellden Cafe
4.8A warm, community-first neighborhood cafe on Old Bellevue's Main Street — specialty coffee, thoughtful breakfast and lunch, and a room that reads more like a shared living room than a coffee stop.
Old Bellevue
Belle Pastry
4.6French pastry case with espresso to match.
Old Bellevue
Fonte Coffee
4.5Roastery cafe with Italian-style espresso.
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Nightlife nearby
Browse all nightlife in Bellevue →Lake Washington Cellars
Local winery tasting room.
Downtown
Bis on Main
Old Bellevue institution with a popular bar scene.
Old Bellevue
Polaris Bellevue Rooftop
Sky-high rooftop lounge with Bellevue skyline views.
Downtown
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar Bellevue
Classic steakhouse with a lively bar.
Downtown
Shopping nearby
Browse all shopping in Bellevue →Old Bellevue Main Street
Walkable historic district with indie boutiques, salons, and cafés.
Old Bellevue
Bellevue Pacific Center
Mixed retail center near the transit center with grocery and services.
Downtown
Apple Bellevue Square
Flagship Apple store inside Bellevue Square.
Downtown
Pottery Barn Bellevue Square
Two-floor home furnishings showroom.
Downtown
Parks & Trails nearby
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Mercer Slough Nature Park
4.7A 320-acre freshwater wetland preserve in the heart of Bellevue with seven miles of trails, boardwalks over open water, a working blueberry farm, and the Environmental Education Center run in partnership with Pacific Science Center.
Newport
Meydenbauer Bay Park
4.7Bellevue's downtown waterfront: a swim beach, a pier, and kayak rentals ten minutes below Old Bellevue.
Old Bellevue
Bellevue Botanical Garden
4.8A free 53-acre public botanical garden in Wilburton with the celebrated Perennial Border, Yao Japanese Garden, Ravine Experience suspension bridge, and the annual Garden d'Lights holiday show.
Wilburton Hill Park
4.6Hilltop park with sports fields, gardens, and city views.
Downtown
Attractions nearby
Browse all attractions in Bellevue →Bellevue Square
4.5The two-level, 200-store centerpiece of The Bellevue Collection — connected by sky bridge to Lincoln Square, Bellevue Place, and downtown Bellevue.
Downtown
The Bellevue Collection
4.7Downtown Bellevue's three-building shopping, dining, entertainment, and hotel campus — Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place connected by covered skybridges into one walkable destination.
Downtown
Lincoln Square
4.5Downtown Bellevue's entertainment, dining, and lifestyle complement to Bellevue Square — cinema, chef-driven restaurants, a public plaza, and the W Bellevue, all under one covered roof.
Downtown
Bellevue Arts Museum
4.4Bellevue's cultural centerpiece — a non-collecting museum of Art, Craft, and Design in a Steven Holl–designed building across from Bellevue Square, with rotating exhibitions, family programs, and one of the strongest pieces of contemporary architecture in Downtown Bellevue.
Downtown
Local Businesses nearby
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Ishii Motor Industries Auto Repair
Independent Bellevue auto repair shop on 116th Ave NE — a locally-owned alternative to dealership service, walking distance from downtown Bellevue.
Downtown
Bel-Red Barbers
4.6Bellevue's longest-running barber shop — walk-ins only, seven days a week, in continuous operation on the Eastside since 1959.
Bridle Trails
Things to Do nearby
Browse all things to do in Bellevue →Pacific Northwest Ballet at PACE
4.6Touring performances at the Performing Arts Center Eastside.
Downtown
Lucky Strike Bellevue
4.3Upscale bowling, billiards, and craft cocktails.
Downtown
Meydenbauer Center
4.4Bellevue's premier convention, conference, and performing arts venue — 36,000 square feet of column-free ballroom, a 410-seat theatre, and a full block of meeting space steps from light rail.
Downtown
Newcastle Golf Club
4.7Two championship courses with Seattle skyline views.
Newport
Practical
Know before you go
Free admission. Limited open hours — typically Tuesday through Saturday afternoons; confirm on the Eastside Heritage Center website before you go. Small parking lot on-site. Ground floor is accessible; upper floor is not.
Details
Hours & contact
Contact
- Address
- 2102 Bellevue Way SE, Bellevue, WA 98004
- Phone
- +1-425-450-1049
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