Gasworks Park - Free

The Seattle Gas Light Company was built in 1906 as a coal gasification plant (somehow converting coal into gas, which could be later converted into crude oil). The import of natural gas led to the plant's closing in 1954. In 1962, the land was bought by the city of Seattle. In 1972, Gasworks Park designed by Landscape Architect Richard Haag was opened.



The park consists of a large hill, giving great views of the lake and surrounding neighborhoods. At the top of the hill is a sundial sculpture. The sundial is confusing, but the views at the top are definitely worth the struggle up the giant slope. The original gasworks is fenced off and remains as a rusting sculptural element.









The original boiler house was converted into a covered picnic area. Supposedly, it is also a children's play area with a maze. It's not really a maze, and the boiler house isn't really that exciting. Brightly painted industrial machinery is still industrial machinery. Still, it's good for a picnic on a day that might be rainy.