Lake Washington Ship Canal

A navigable waterway in Seattle that connects Puget Sound with Lake Washington through Shilshole Bay, Salmon Bay, Lake Union, and the Fremont and Montlake cuts.

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Hiram M. Chittenden Locks: A lock complex in Seattle that raises and lowers vessels between Puget Sound and the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The locks control the canal’s elevation change and limit saltwater intrusion into freshwater lakes.
United States Army Corps of Engineers: A federal engineering agency responsible for military construction and civil works, including navigation projects. The Corps designed and built the canal’s locks and supervised its construction.
Lake Washington: A large freshwater lake east of Seattle, Washington, connected to Puget Sound by the ship canal. The canal altered the lake’s level and created its navigable outlet to the sea.
Shilshole Bay: A bay on Puget Sound in Seattle, adjoining the western entrance to the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The canal reaches Puget Sound through Shilshole Bay and its marina.
Ballard Locks: The common name for the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Seattle. This familiar name identifies the canal’s western gateway between Salmon Bay and Puget Sound.
Thomas Burke: A Seattle judge, railroad executive, and civic leader who promoted regional development. Burke helped advocate for a ship canal connecting Puget Sound to Lake Washington.
Lake Union: A freshwater lake in Seattle linked to Puget Sound and Lake Washington by the ship canal. The canal made Lake Union a central segment of a navigable route across Seattle.
Ballard Bridge: A bascule bridge carrying 15th Avenue Northwest across the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle. Its movable span must open for vessels passing through Salmon Bay.
Ship canal lock: A chamber with gates that raises or lowers vessels between waterways at different levels. The canal uses this engineering system to make its elevation transition navigable.
Edmond S. Meany: A University of Washington historian and Washington state legislator. Meany supported the canal project through public advocacy and political work.