Imagine Broken Island a small patch of land nestled in Union Bay. It wasn’t always an island. Before 1916 Broken Island didn’t exist. Lake Washington was much higher. Then the Lake Washington Ship Canal opened. The lake’s level dropped nearly nine feet. Shallow areas became dry land. Broken Island emerged from the depths. Its soil is mostly peat remnants from a time long before the city. Now it sits quietly adjacent to Husky Stadium. It’s a reminder of how Seattle’s landscape has changed over time. The wetlands surrounding Broken Island are a result of habitat conversion after the lake level lowering. You see the quiet beauty of this small island. Imagine the Duwamish people. They lived here thousands of years ago. Their villages thrived around Union Bay. They used the resources of the marsh. Broken Island was part of their world. They even used Stitici now known as Foster Island as a ceremonial burial ground. Their history is woven into the very fabric of this place. Today Broken Island is a small island. It is a testament to the power of nature. It is also a quiet reminder of Seattle’s rich history. The island stands as a silent witness to dramatic change. It remains a piece of Seattle’s past present and future. A quiet reminder of a lake much higher than it is today.
Queen Anne Boulevard
“A scenic loop,” they called it. Queen Anne Boulevard gracefully winds around the crest of Queen Anne Hill. It offers