Alki Beach is the site of the landing of the first white settlers in Seattle on a cold, stormy day in November of 1851. Chief Seattle and his tribe greeted them and helped them build their cabin to stave off the cold, wet winter.

The beach enjoys minus tides that reveal a wide expanse of sandy beach. Partly protected by a seawall, Alki Beach is a summer park destination. The park begins at Alki Point and extends 2.5 miles to Duwamish Head, the mouth of the Duwamish River. ("Duwamish" comes from a Chinook word "duwampsh," meaning "many-colored river," and was one of the first names proposed for the city that is now Seattle.)