Lake Union gasworks and University district, ca. 1909

• Main Author: Webster & Stevens
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Gas industry Storage tanks; Yukon; Pacific; Union Lake; Anne Hill; Alaska
• Online Access: http://cdm16786.contentdm.oclc.org:80/cdm/ref/collection/imlsmohai/id/6194

Private companies started supplying Seattle homes and businesses with natural gas in the early 1870s. At first, the gas was made from coal, which was brought in by railroad. It was used for lighting streets and buildings, as well as for cooking, heating and manufacturing. One company built a plant at the north end of Lake Union in 1906. Parts of the plant survive in the 1990s as Gasworks Park. This photo, taken around 1909, shows the north end of Lake Union and the gasworks. In the background ont eh right are the buildings of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. It was taken from the east side of Queen Anne Hill. 1 glass negative: b&w; 6.5 x 8.5 in.