Touring the Ship Canal

Thanks to support from 4Culture, two cruises aboard the Virginis V were offered to the public. As the year 2017 will mark the Centennial of the formal opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and the Chittenden Locks, it is hoped that more of these cruises will be made possible and it will provide an opportunity to participate in events organized to celebrate the anniversary.

Virginia V a 1922 National Historic Landmark vessel.

Virginia V & Mohai Canal Cruise with Friends of the Ballard Locks

Thanks to a grant from 4 Culture the second cruise on the 1922 wooden steamship, the Virginia V (five), took place Sun. Aug 14,  with narration provided by Friends of the Ballard Locks, Mohai, and a representative for the Virginia V Foundation. This was the second sold out cruise and due to the success of both cruises, further cruises are being considered for the 2017 calendar year as part of the Making the Cut celebrations acknowledging the Centennial of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Chittenden Locks.
 Here are a few pics of the recent trip. The weather was beautiful, the vessel traffic was heavy so plan on bringing your patience if you join us next year.

Virgina V

With Mount Rainier in distance

Here's a link to our facebook page for more images.

friendsoftheballardlocks/


 Many groups are involved with many different projects which will be occurring this and next year. There will be a group effort to mark some of the original lake border on Aug 28. Here's some info on that:
 Making the Cut: The Locks, The Lakes, and a Century of Change

Chalk it up!
Mark your calendars for the following "happening!"
Drawing the Line: A Temporary Tracing of Lake Washington’s Historical Shoreline

Sunday, August 28th, 2016
10 am – 4 pm
Lake Washington Boulevard (approximately), between Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center and Seward Park
A hundred years ago this summer, the Montlake Cut was completed, and Lake Washington began to flow out into Lake Union (and then to Puget Sound, via the Ballard Locks). By October of 1916, Lake Washington was nine feet lower, and a whole lot of places that had been underwater no longer were. On August 28th (Bicycle Sunday), local historian and artist Mikala Woodward be temporarily reviving this vanished landscape, by walking the former shoreline with a field chalker. The journey will begin at the Mount Baker Rowing & Sailing Center at 10 am and wind up at Seward Park in the early afternoon. The chalk line is non-toxic and will last 3-5 days. A handout explaining the project and the history behind it will be available at info stations along the route. Many thanks to Amir Sheikh and the Waterlines Project for historical mapping, and to 4culture for a generous Heritage Project grant. For more information please contact Mikala Woodward at mikalawoodward AT gmail DOT com.

 

Virginia V Cruise

MOHAI and the Virginia V Foundation teamed up to provide a recent cruise down a portion of the ship canal, out through the locks and back again. This was a great opportunity to have a few hours sailing on board a historic steam ship and see some familiar sights from a new angle. The tour sold out quickly and the next offering in August is also sold out. It may be worthwhile to contact MOHAI to inquire about a mailing list, but there were very few no shows for the initial cruise, so we can always hope there will be more offerings of similar cruises next year. This is all being done as a cooperative effort to celebrate the centennial of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and the Chittenden Locks. Numerous groups and historical societies are meeting and planning events to mark the 100th year anniversary so keep an eye out for other centennial events. It should also be mentioned that funding for this event, and others to follow, was in part, provided by 4 Culture, so a big thank you goes to them for helping make the event a success. Members of Friends of the Ballard Locks were on hand to offer some historical information and answer questions. Look for them on the next cruise, and bring your questions or your own family history as it pertains to the ship canal.

Virginia V Cruise Opportunities

SPECIAL LOCKS HISTORY CRUISES

This summer marks the beginning of a year-long centennial celebration of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Hop on board the historic vessel Virginia V for a journey through the Ballard Locks with historians from Friends of the Ballard Locks sharing the history and legacy of this engineering achievement. MOHAI will have hands-on activities for children and a selection of beverages and chips will be available for purchase.

There will be two opportunities to join this adventure: Sunday July 10 and Sunday August 14. Guests will board the vessel on Lake Union at 12:30 p.m. and return to the dock at 3:30 p.m. Visit www.mohai.org for further information and to make your reservations.

This program is produced in partnership with the Virginia V Foundation, MOHAI and Friends of the Ballard Locks, with generous support from:

 

This is a great opportunity to enjoy a  rare cruise aboard a truly historic vessel and ask questions about the locks and ship canal!