Seattle's Locks and Ship Canal: A History and Guide

How one canal reshaped Seattle’s history, economy, and environment

Seattle’s waterways are central to the city’s identity, and none more so than the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks. Seattle’s Locks and Ship Canal: A History and Guide offers an accessible introduction to this engineering marvel and its ongoing significance. Adapted from the acclaimed Waterway, this portable edition distills decades of history into an engaging format ideal for both residents and visitors.

David B. Williams and Jennifer Ott chart the vision that drove the canal’s creation and the dramatic changes it brought to the city’s economy, neighborhoods, and natural environment. Along the way, they highlight the political struggles, industrial ambitions, and ecological consequences that shaped one of Seattle’s defining projects.

Enhanced with a map of the locks and another featuring key sites along the ship canal, this edition doubles as both a history and a practical guide. It illuminates how the locks, once designed for commercial shipping, have evolved into one of Seattle’s most popular destinations, where recreational boats, salmon ladders, and historic structures draw crowds year-round.

Clear, informative, and visually rich, Seattle’s Locks and Ship Canal is both a primer on the city’s past and a companion for exploring part of its present-day waterfront.

A Michael J. Repass Book

David B. Williams is an author whose many books include Seattle Walks: Discovering History and Nature in the City and Homewaters: A Human and Natural History of Puget Sound. Jennifer Ott is executive director at HistoryLink.org and an environmental historian. Her works include Where the City Meets the Sound: The Story of Seattle’s Waterfront.