Lake Union bustles with kayaks, paddleboards, motorboats, and seaplanes. On the southern shores, you’ll find tourists and office workers enjoying their lunch in the park, and it’s also home to the Museum of History & Industry, showcasing the city’s history and innovation. 
Adjacent to MOHAI is the Historic Ships Wharf, featuring historic boats like the 100-year-old steamer SS Virginia.
In the late 1800s, the Puget Sound area had a minimal road network, making the sound itself the primary highway. Countless small ferries plied the waters, and this fleet became known as the …?
Did you know that William Boeing launched his first airplane, the Boeing Model 1 or B&W seaplane, from Lake Union? Soon after, seaplane service began on the lake, including airmail flights to Victoria, British Columbia. Today, Lake Union remains the oldest continually operating international seaplane base in the country.
At that time, our combined factory and seaplane hangar were housed in a small building on the shores of Lake Union, and it was from there that I made the initial test flight of the first Boeing plane. That was June 15, 1916.
Biography of William E. Boeing
Visitors to MOHAI can view Bill Boeing’s first commercial plane, along with other intriguing artifacts from Seattle’s history, such as the neon ‘R’ from the Rainier Brewing Company and a World War II-era periscope offering views of downtown Seattle.
After the Lake Washington Ship Canal opened in 1917, Lake Union connected to saltwater via locks accommodating large ships. It became a hub for shipbuilding and repair, with the lumber business thriving due to easy transport of logs. The lake hosted scrapyards, a cement plant, large shipyards, and numerous boatshops.
As Seattle expanded, these industries gradually declined. Floating home communities, initially consisting of little more than shacks on log rafts, began to flourish on the lake.
Today, some of Seattle’s largest tech companies, including Amazon and Google, have their headquarters in this dynamic neighborhood.
The Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop, a registered trail, encircles the lake, offering a scenic path for visitors and locals alike.
