The Ballard Locks

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The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, known locally as the Ballard Locks, are a vital part of Seattle’s extensive waterways. As the busiest facility of their kind in the United States, the Ballard Locks connect the saltwater of Puget Sound with the freshwater of Lake Union and Lake Washington.

Completed in 1917, the locks were second in size only to the Panama Canal and the first of their kind on the West Coast. They serve a crucial purpose: maintaining the levels of Seattle’s lakes while enabling vessels to travel between them and the sea.

Today, the Ballard Locks rank among Seattle’s most popular attractions, drawing more than a million visitors each year. Guests come to watch salmon migrate through the fish ladder, stroll through the lush botanical gardens, and marvel at the steady stream of working boats and pleasure craft navigating the locks.

This book, part of the Images of America series, celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the nation. In The Ballard Locks, author Adam Wong showcases archival photographs from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—the organization that built and continues to maintain the locks—to tell the stories that shaped this iconic landmark and the character of Seattle itself.