Stately and large, the home serves as an excellent example of Victorian architecture as expressed by a prominent farmer at the turn of the century. Three pedimented roofed dormers with de corative bands of fishscale and diamond shaped shingles are distinctive features of the house and its style. Two life-sized stone lions stand guard in front of the house. Nelsen was able to buy the Vermont stone when a Seattle Catholic organization was unable to raise the funds for a statue. The stone was barged from Tacoma and hauled by horse and wagon to the Nelsen farm where a local artist, Sam Barrett, sculpted the Lions.
View our Nelsen Residence
Photo Gallery.
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Progress and growth of the area necessitated that, in 1964, the house and lions, be moved sixty yards to the West to accommodate the widening of the West Valley Highway. The original dairy barn, built in 1903 and moved in 1969 to become the Renton Auction Barn has since been demolished. Large Victorian homes like this were once scattered across the Valley and the Nelsen Family Residence is a fine example of rural turn-of-the-century architecture. Spacious and gracious, it has been maintained with respectful loving care that shows. Aside from minor modernizations the house retains its original integrity and will always stand as a landmark in the city of Tukwila no matter the “progress” that occurs around it. |
