A Little Bit About Lake Union

South Lake Union Park became a reality on July 1, 2000. This 12-acre urban waterfront park is both unique and popular and offers the visitors a great place to relax and immerse themselves in Seattle's rich maritime culture while exploring the Historic Ships Wharf or the Center for Wooden Boats, or just sitting back watching sail boats drift by. And if you get hungry, visit one of the areas many fine restaurants. Oh, and you can ride the South Lake Union Trolley into town and back.

South Lake Union has long played a vital role in Seattle's history. The Native American tribes used it as a camp ground and trailhead for major trails leading to Elliott Bay and the Duwamish River. The white settlers soon cleared the once heavily timbered area and with the coming of the first sawmill, came the beginning of the filling in of the lake. A small bay extended inland to Mercer Street and a stream ran through and around Boren Avenue. At one time Lake Union was one-third larger than it is today but when the mills started dumping their sawdust into the lake’s water, the small bay that once extended inland to Mercer Street was eventually filled in.