On July 4, The Ballard Locks Turn 102
SEATTLE, WA — If you're planning to attend the Seafair July 4 fireworks show on Lake Union, take a short westward detour to say happy birthday to one of the state's most famous landmarks — the Hiram A. Chittenden locks in Ballard.
The Ballard locks, the busiest in the U.S., turn 102 years old on July 4. The locks are the most important link for boats and spawning salmon between Puget Sound, Lake Union, and Lake Washington (and the Cascades beyond).
If you visit this week, you'll be treated to the amazing sight of large and small boats being lowered 21 feet from Salmon Bay into Puget Sound on a sort-of water elevator. Salmon are also running up the locks' fish ladder on the northern edge of the Magnolia neighborhood.
The locks opened in May 1917, but the official opening was held on July 4 that year. Chittenden was a member of the Army Corps of Engineers and spearheaded the design of the locks. The project cost $2.3 million, which is almost $50 million in 2019 dollars. Aside from the locks, the Carl S. English Botanical Gardens on the locks grounds offers a serene place to picnic.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/on-july-4-puget-sounds-most-beloved-water-feature-turns-102/ar-AADHBt2
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