Seattle, Washington story
A Floating History
Not all of Seattle's historic homes are on solid ground. The Wagner House is one of the city's oldest surviving houseboats, beginning its life around 1909 as a summer home on Lake…
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Not all of Seattle's historic homes are on solid ground. The Wagner House is one of the city's oldest surviving houseboats, beginning its life around 1909 as a summer home on Lake Washington. In the 1950s, Richard Wagner bought the vessel and eventually moved it to Lake Union.
Together with his wife Colleen, he converted the building into the home of the Center for Wooden Boats. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the houseboat is a floating testament to the city's maritime soul. It's a reminder that in a city defined by water, some of the most enduring landmarks are those that simply drift with the tide.
Updated June 2026