Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal

Construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks was completed in 1917 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Connecting the waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Salmon Bay to the tidal waters of Puget Sound, the canal and locks allow recreational and commercial vessels to travel to the docks and warehouses of Seattle's busy freshwater harbor. The grounds feature a visitors' center, fish ladder, as well as the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens. The Lake Washington Ship Canal Visitor Center is a great starting point for any visit. Both floors of the Visitor Center are ADA accessible, including the theater where short films are shown about the navigational and recreational aspects of the project. Free daily tours of the Locks, Botanical Garden and Fish Ladder begin at 2:00 pm, each day the Visitor Center is open, and run about one hour. Organized groups, like school field trips, may request an organized tour by emailing locktours@usace.army.mil to begin the request process. Organized tours are an ideal way to have your tour tailored to particular interests and are scheduled independent of the free daily tours. Lake Washington Ship Canal staff will work with your group to confirm your tour once a tour request is received. Special Use Permits are required to host events, rent tables and chairs or conduct filming and photography at Lake Washington Ship Canal. A Special Use Permit may be requested by emailing locktours@usace.army.mil. Lake Washington Ship Canal staff will work with your group to confirm your Special Use Permit once a request is received.