Imagine this: a sprawling island built from the earth. Harbor Island stands as a testament to human ingenuity. It sits where the Duwamish River meets Elliott Bay.
Harbor Island is not a natural formation. It is a man-made island. It was completed in 1909. It was once the world’s largest artificial island. The Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company built it.
The creation of Harbor Island involved moving massive amounts of earth. 24 million cubic yards of earth were used. This material came from the Jackson and Dearborn Street regrades. It also came from dredging the Duwamish River bed.
Initially, Harbor Island covered 350 acres. It lost its title as the world’s largest artificial island in 1938. Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay was larger. But Harbor Island regained the title in 1967. It had grown to nearly 397 acres. Today, Rokkō Island in Kobe harbor, Japan, is much larger.
Harbor Island has served various commercial and industrial purposes. These include shipbuilding and repair. Other uses are lead smelting, petroleum storage, and metal fabrication. Containerized cargo shipping also takes place here. Warehouses, laboratories, and other buildings populate the island.
The West Seattle Bridge passes over Harbor Island. The newer Spokane Street Bridge also crosses it. This bridge is a swing bridge over the West Waterway. A causeway crosses the East Waterway. It is supported by pilings just above high tide.
Vigor Industrial operates a shipyard on Harbor Island. It covers 27 acres. The Port of Seattle also has terminals here. The Mountaineers’ publishing branch is also located here. They are known for “Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills”.
During World War II, Harbor Island became a hub of activity. The Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation built 45 destroyers for the U.S. Navy here. This took place from 1941 to 1946. Vigor now owns this yard.
Harbor Island’s development was spurred by plans for the Panama Canal. Seattle aimed to become a major trade focus in the eastern Pacific. Virgil G. Bogue proposed ambitious plans in 1911. These included seven 1400-foot piers on Harbor Island.
The island’s soil composition makes it seismically unstable. During the 1949 earthquake, parts of the island rose. Other parts dropped. The 2001 Nisqually Earthquake caused eruptions of muddy water.
In 1983, lead contamination led to Harbor Island being placed on a priority list. Some areas were remediated in 1996. Today, Harbor Island remains a vital part of Seattle’s industrial landscape. It stands as a testament to the city’s growth.
Harbor Island: a story of transformation. From tidal flats to a bustling industrial center. From the world’s largest artificial island to a key part of Seattle’s port. Harbor Island continues to evolve.