Owning the land was only the beginning. For a long stretch the property saw little use, because it lacked the features that draw people to a park, so Seattle Parks Foundation launched a capital campaign aiming to raise $20 million for new facilities.
Public money played its part as well. The Seattle City Council set aside $4.228 million to repair the shoreline bulkhead, and another $5 million came from the 2000 Pro Parks Levy that voters approved, clearing the way for the renovated park to open in 2010.
The Seattle Commons that never was
As you look around, picture the much larger greenspace once imagined for this area. In 1995, Seattle voters turned down a levy for the Seattle Commons, a proposed park that would have stretched from Lake Union to downtown. Mayor Norm Rice and Paul Allen backed the plan, and Allen later developed real estate in the area instead.
Explore the Historic Ships Wharf
If boats are your thing, head straight for the Historic Ships Wharf, the heart of the park for maritime fans. Several historic vessels make their home here:
- Arthur Foss, a tugboat
- Duwamish, a fireboat
- Swiftsure, a lightship
- Virginia V, a steamer
Keep an eye out for larger historic ships that call at the wharf as visitors, including the Hawaiian Chieftain and the Lady Washington, a tall ship that appeared in films including Pirates of the Caribbean. The tug Arthur Foss, the excursion boat Virginia V and the lightship Relief/Swiftsure are each recognized as Seattle landmarks.
Visit MOHAI in the Armory
The biggest building on the grounds is the former Naval Reserve building, known to most people simply as the Armory, and it is a designated landmark in its own right.
Until early 2011, the Armory held offices for Seattle Parks and Recreation and several nonprofits, among them the Center for Wooden Boats, the Virginia V, Seattle Parks Foundation and Associated Recreation Council. Renovation then began to turn it into the new home of MOHAI, Seattle's Museum of History & Industry, and the fully restored building reopened as the museum in 2012.
Things to See and Do Around the Grounds
The park was designed to bring you to the water and onto green space, to link the surrounding neighborhoods, and to honor the region's cultural, industrial and maritime history. You can feel all three goals as you wander from one feature to the next.
Along the water
- A restored shoreline
- A beach where boats can be launched
- A pedestrian bridge
- A model boat pond
On land
- A Great Lawn with room to spread out
- A grove of trees
- A fountain of water jets
- A history trail
- Footpaths and park benches
Behind the scenes, the park has infrastructure built for large events, so the lawn and waterfront can host big gatherings. The plan also set aside a footprint for a future education center for The Center for Wooden Boats.
Ride the Streetcar to the Park
Leave the car behind and hop on the South Lake Union Streetcar, a line that began running in late 2007 and has its own Lake Union Park stop. Before you go, check the Seattle Parks and Recreation page for the park for current hours, event schedules and other visitor details.
