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 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!

100 Years Ago

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO…

If you were visiting the locks in May of 1916 this is what you would have seen.

1. This view taken from the railroad bridge shows the completed large lock with all the gates kept open to allow the tidal flow into Salmon Bay. The small lock is not yet done, there are still cofferdams at both ends so work can continue within the lock. The slope west of the administration building has been terraced as we see it today.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. On the south side of the canal work is progressing on the spillway dam with the spillway and the lower apron about half completed, the dam will be finished in about 3 months.

3. This photo is taken from the Fremont bridge, the newly dug Fremont canal heads westward toward the shingle mills at the head of Salmon Bay. The lock site is further west in Salmon Bay, in 10 weeks the gates of the locks will be closed to flood Salmon Bay to its current height of 20 feet above sea level.
   
   
   
   
   

Photos: Corps of Engineers             Display: Friends of the Ballard Locks

Lake Washington Ship Canal

Map shows the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Photo courtesy of commons.wickimedia.org and used with permission.

March 22, 1907, was the date that the Lake Washington Canal Association filed the forms which documented the issuance of $10,000 in capital stock in order to carry out the work of finishing the canal, allowing the transportation of goods from Lake Washington and points inland out through the canal and into Puget Sound. Just the day before, the Association had filed the papers necessary to incorporate themselves into a legal entity. The Association was comprised of John,H. McGraw, Thomas Burke, George A. Virtue, C. E. Remsberg, Roger S. Greene and J.S. Brace. H.A.P. Myers was a notary public for the county and with his signature and the county seal the long sought effort to complete the canal would begin in earnest.