Encircled by the shimmering waters of Green Lake, Duck Island stands as a quiet sanctuary. It’s a small, unassuming isle, yet its story is woven into the fabric of Seattle’s history. Duck Island wasn’t always known by this name. Originally christened Swan Island, it emerged from a grand vision during the Great Depression. In the winter of 1936, Seattle embarked on a WPA-funded project to revitalize Green Lake. The lake suffered from algae blooms, foul odors, and the dreaded “swimmer’s itch”. The ambitious plan included dredging the lake bottom and building an island sanctuary for wildlife. The island, built with countless wheelbarrow loads of mud hauled across a temporary trestle, rose ten feet above the water. It was hoped that swans, donated by the Victoria, B.C. Parks Department, would thrive there. However, the island’s steep sides prevented the growth of reeds and grasses essential for swan nesting. The swans, sadly, did not survive. Despite the swans’ fate, the island became a haven for other creatures, including ducks. In 1956, the Washington State Game Commission officially designated the island as a sanctuary, renaming it the Waldo J. Dahl Game Reserve. Over time, the more popular name, Duck Island, stuck, a testament to its feathered inhabitants. Although no longer officially a game reserve, Duck Island remains off-limits to human visitors, a peaceful refuge in the heart of bustling Green Lake.
Queen Anne Boulevard
“A scenic loop,” they called it. Queen Anne Boulevard gracefully winds around the crest of Queen Anne Hill. It offers