In 1882, lumber mills, shipyards, and other industries began to move north from Seattle’s waterfront to the shores of Lake Union. Industrial development continued with Seattle’s growth but shrank after World War II. A few shipyards remained by the late 1960s, plus some light industry, apartments, parking lots, fast food restaurants, marinas, and a seaplane terminal. Roads were built and widened to move traffic quickly through the area.

This image, taken from the southwest on a sunny fall afternoon, concentrates on the southwest part of Lake Union. In the upper right, Interstate 5 stretches north, past the Lake Union Dry Dock Company and the hilltop St. Mark’s Cathedral. The US Naval Reserve Armory (now the Museum of History & Industry) sits on the lake, near the shipyards. Aurora Avenue cuts across the lower part of the image, crossing the Valley-Broad Street underpass (later reconstructed) and a Metro bus parking lot can be seen in the foreground, near Mercer Street.

Caption information source: “Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing is incorporated on March 19, 1882," by Jennifer Ott, HistoryLink Essay 10218.