Gas Works Park

On a promontory jutting into Lake Union the Seattle Gas Light Company built a gasification plant to convert coal into gas. After fifty years of operation the plant shut down in 1956. Two decades later the land was opened as a public park. Rather than being demolished, the processing towers, boiler house, storage tanks, and various other machinery were left standing or converted into a children's play barn and picnic shelter. Political rallies, drum circles, kite flyings, chalk parties, candlelight vigils, solstice pageants, and film shootings are some of the goings-on that typically occur on the grounds.