Take A Part In The Centennial Commeration

Sunday’s (July 9, 2017) Locks Centennial Boat Parade viewing spots include:

Seattle Parks:

11th Ave NW Street-end park (on the Ballard side of the Ship Canal)

Roanoke St. Mini-Park, 1 E. Roanoke St., peek-a-boo view of Lake Union

Lynn St. Mini-Park, 2291 Fairview Ave E; view of Lake Union between the houseboats

Lake Union Park, south end of Lake Union

Other locations:

Evanston Avenue (one block west of Fremont Ave)

Along the Cut between the area under the Aurora Bridge west to 2nd NW

Burke-Gilman Trail (various spots); roaming docents

In front of 2 Nickerson on the canal

The Ballard Bridge approaches

On-street parking is available near most of these locations but we strongly recommend arriving on foot, by public transportation or by bicycle. Most marinas with a view of the Ship Canal or Lake Union have locked gates with entry available only to their tenants, we ask you please respect those.

The following list of participating boats was published by historylink.org and we're adding it here for those who will be able to view the boats as they make the journey through the canal and into Lake Union. The Glorybe and the Keewaydin were both in the original parade on July 4, 1917! Let's see who will be here in 2117.

Chittenden Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal Centennial Marine Parade

 Centennial Parade is open to the public

Virginia V under sail

There will be a boat parade to mark the centennial anniversary of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Chittenden Locks on July 9, 2017 from 10 am to noon.

Here's some information directly from the Virginia V website:

"Come celebrate 100 years of operation of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (aka the Ballard Locks). Board the VIRGINIA V from South Lake Union and parade to the locks and back with a host of other boats celebrating this event.
The VIRGINIA V will be the official viewing boat for the parade and will peel off from the group just after the Fremont Bridge. Once docked back at SLU the vessels will parade by our pier!
Itinerary:

• Board at 9:30 am
• Departure at 10:00 am
• Return at 12:00 pm
• Vessels parade by VIRGINIA V at 12:30 pm

Bar service with beer, wine, and soda for sale
Lunch not provided with ticket price. Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks."

You can sign up on line and find more info here:
https://www.virginiav.org/?event=ballard-locks-centennial-parade&event_date=2017-07-09

Even more info on the Making The Cut website is here:

http://makingthecut100.org/event/boat-parade/

History Month Weekend Activities

This weekend, May 20th and  21st will have a special celebration of Community Gardening, along with other activities and displays at the Locks. The Carl English Botanical Gardens certainly benefits from its many volunteers who help out throughout the year, not to mention the benefits enjoyed from the visitors who come from all corners of the globe to take in the beauty of the gardens and many activities happening around the clock at the locks.

The Administration Building has displays from local historical and neighborhood groups and our local HistoryLink with their Waterlines map, which was part of the Waterlines exhibit at the Burke Museum. There will be some local volunteers and historians present from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, to answer questions and talk about some of the items on display. Bring your own stories and curiosity and enjoy another weekend at one of Seattle's most popular attractions.

History Month at the Locks

May is national history month and May 6 and 7 saw many groups put on a variety of exhibitions, activities and performances at the Chittenden Locks. Most of the displays will be open for public viewing in the Administration Building during the month, and will even be open on the weekends just for the month of May. Displays have been contributed by the Rainier Valley Historical Society, Fremont Historical Society, History Link, Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society, American Society of Civil Engineers and the Friends of the Ballard Locks.

Bridge building activity

Building a straw bridge

National History Month at the Locks

The following is a post from the website of Making the Cut 100, a group of historians and individuals involved in bringing attention to the 100th anniversary of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Chittenden Locks.

May is National History Month and we will be jumping on board with a number of activities celebrating the centennial of the Locks and the Ship Canal. Join us!

The Administration Building will be open every day 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to view displays provided by local history groups. The highlight of the displays is a six-foot long model of the S.S. Roosevelt which was the official boat on Opening Day 100 years ago. The Visitor Center, open daily 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m., will feature special displays of antique tools and instruments that were used in the engineering and construction of the Locks.

Take note of the following special activities:
Saturday, May 6, Children’s fishing game 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.; Chat with a Historian 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 7, ceremony and reception honoring Clayton Naset, builder of the Roosevelt model 1:00 p.m.; Chat with a Historian, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.; Kid’s Toy Boat Building, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 20, Chat with a Historian, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 21, Chat with a Historian, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

It is also Opening Day and you can watch the crew races down by the Montlake Cut. A little something for everyone!