The New Era of Lake Washington Shipbuilding
Capitalizing on the brand-new ship canal, local firms pivot to build massive steel cargo ships for international trade.
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The first development of the shipbuilding industry on Lake Washington as a result of the building of the Lake Washington canal, connecting the lake with Puget Sound, was announced this week. Captain L. Hannevig, representing Hannevig Brothers of Christiania, Norway, has awarded contracts for two steel cargo steamers of 8,800 tons each to the Anderson Steamboat Company of Seattle. The Anderson company, which previously operated a small yard for lake vessels, will now enlarge the plant to build ocean-going steamers. The vessels are to be completed within 17 months and will cost $1,250,000 each.
“The Anderson company... will enlarge the plant to build ocean-going steamers.”
This moment marked a massive industrial expansion for Seattle, turning an inland lake into a global maritime hub. Today, while heavy shipbuilding has largely shifted, the canal remains one of the city's most vital pieces of infrastructure, reflecting the permanent transformation of the region's geography for economic gain.
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