The site was originally developed for a Naval Hospital during the Second World War. After the war, King County Public Health officials took over the facility for a tuberculosis sanatorium and gradually the land and buildings were purchased by or granted to the State of Washington for the "first Pacific Coast institution placed in a metropolitan area".

Fircrest opened in 1958 with four people admitted on the first day. By the end of the first month, the census stood at 125 and grew to over 1000 by the mid sixties. Since then the client population has gradually declined to the 282 permanent clients and between four and six respite clients we serve today. Between 1997 and 1999 fifty three clients have moved from Fircrest. back to the top