The house that once belonged to REI's founders Lloyd and Mary Anderson stands proudly in West Seattle.

Photo by Lindsay Peyton

Recreational Equipment, Inc., better known as REI, grew from humble roots as a Seattle start-up into a company with 154 retail stores in 36 states.

The business can trace its roots to West Seattle, to a house on SW Southern St., perched atop a hill, overlooking the ocean.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society opened the doors of the home that started it all, belonging to the late REI founders Lloyd and Mary Anderson, as part of its “If These Walls Could Talk” annual tour on Sunday, Aug. 5.

Executive director Jeff McCord explained that when the Andersons purchased the property and built their home, they found themselves outside the hustle and bustle of the city.

“This land would have been thought of as remote, out in the country,” he said. “They understood the appeal of the land, and that’s what brought them out here. The spirit of wanting to live in the outdoors is what drew them to this spot.”