Come Out Seattle

THE STORY OF SHELLY’S LEG—AS TOLD BY JOE McGONAGLE

Hear the history directly from one of the people who opened it.
In July 1995, Joe McGonagle sat down with members of the Northwest Le***an and Gay History Museum Project (NWLGHMP) to share his life story.

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, join Come Out Seattle at MOHAI from 6:30 to 8 p.m. as community readers bring his memories of Shelly’s Leg to life.

Joe opened Shelly’s Leg with Pat Nesser, so you’ll hear this piece of Seattle LGBTQ+ history “straight from the horse’s mouth!”

📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026
🕡 6:30–8 p.m.
📍 MOHAI | 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle

Event details and registration:
https://mohai.org/event/history-cafe-preserving-lgbtq-history/

1986 BAR MAP FEATURED IN “STEPS TO THE FUTURE

Explore Seattle’s LGBTQ+ bars and nightlife in 1986.

Steps to the Future, an exhibit of historical photographs organized by Come Out Seattle, is entering its final weeks at Union.

Stop by to learn more about the LGBTQ+ bars featured on this map of Seattle in 1986.

STEPS TO THE FUTURE: 80/40/20
On view at Union through September 15, 2026, the exhibit looks back across 80, 40, and 20 years of local q***r history—from The Garden of Allah to Pride on Broadway to the final last call at Thumper’s.

www.comeoutseattle.org

Union Seattle - 1009 East Union Street

History Café: Preserving LGBTQ+ History

Since 1994, the Northwest Le***an and Gay History Museum Project (NWLGHMP) has worked to preserve the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ people throughout the Pacific Northwest through its collection of oral histories.

Join Come Out Seattle for a special evening at MOHAI, where community readers will bring these stories to life—sharing powerful reflections on LGBTQ+ life, past and present.

📍 MOHAI
🕡 Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • 6:30–8:00 p.m.

Come listen, learn, and celebrate the stories that have shaped our community.

Learn more: https://mohai.org/event/history-cafe-preserving-lgbtq-history/

"Hold That Tiger" at The Garden of Allah 1950.

Seattle's first LGBTQ owned and operated bar The Garden of Allah was open from 1946-1956 at 1299 1st Ave. In Seattle.

"Hold That Tiger" was a popular Dixieland rag first recorded in 1918 and made popular by the Mills Brothers. It was probably pounded out on the Garden’s Wurlitzer organ which included a simultaneous piano and may have sounded like this performed by Winnifred Atwell.
https://youtu.be/lXV5wRjGEk8?si=3zYrE3zXKkjiKvEX

See this and other pictures at "Steps to the Future 80/40/20", the Come Out Seattle exhibit at Union Seattle now until Sept.15.

From left: Tigers Bily DeVoe, Jackie Starr, Hotcha Hinton, Francis Blair. Animal Trainer: Kenny Bee.

Picture courtesy of the University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, SOC7432/UW43632.

For the full story see “An Evening at the Garden of Allah” by Don Paulson & Roger Simpson 1996.

Garden of Allah Featured in “Steps to the Future”

Steps to the Future, an exhibit of historic photographs organized by Come Out Seattle at Union, is now in its final weeks.

Stop by to learn more about the legendary stars of the Garden of Allah—Seattle’s first bar owned and operated by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Steps to the Future: 80/40/20

On view through September 15, 2026, the exhibit looks back across 80, 40, and 20 years of local q***r history—from the Garden of Allah and Pride on Broadway to the final last call at Thumper’s.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the places, people, and moments that helped shape Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community.

📍 Union
1009 E. Union St.,
Seattle, WA 98122

Monday–Friday: 4 p.m.–2 a.m.
Saturday–Sunday: Noon–2 a.m.
Kitchen open daily until 10 p.m.

Seattle's gay history comes alive as Union bar owners launch Come Out Seattle archive. By Hannah Everman & Eddie Galdamez, KOMO News

Seattle's gay history comes alive as Union bar owners launch Come Out Seattle archive Capitol Hill gay bar veterans Steve Nyman and Nathan Benedict have seen the "Gayborhood" evolve over the decades and now they're doing their part to preserve...