Lake Washington Boulevard
historic place
Lake Washington Boulevard is a historic place in Seattle, located in King County. Its development began with the 1903 plan for a citywide park and boulevard system, designed by the Olmsted Brothers. John Charles Olmsted's vision was to create a pleasure drive and transportation route. It was intended for horses, carriages, and bicycles, and later for automobiles. Construction of the boulevard started in 1904. The first section opened in 1909, just in time for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition held on the University of Washington campus. The entire nine-mile boulevard was completed by 1917. Lake Washington Boulevard connects nine of Seattle's Olmsted parks. It offers varied views, including Lake Washington, small rainforest sections, meadows, and the Cascade Mountains. This historic roadway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. Lake Washington Boulevard serves as a key example of Seattle's early 20th-century urban planning and park system development.