Seattle, Washington story
A Glacial Gift
Green Lake is one of Seattle's most beloved spots, but its origins are truly ancient. About 50,000 years ago, the Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet carved out the basin that became the lak…
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Green Lake is one of Seattle's most beloved spots, but its origins are truly ancient. About 50,000 years ago, the Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet carved out the basin that became the lake. By 1905, the State of Washington gave the lake to the city, and it became part of the Olmsted Brothers' vision for the city's parks.
However, the lake we see today is smaller than it used to be. Over fifteen years, it was diked, dredged, and filled, shrinking by nearly 100 acres. The final bit of fill actually came from the excavation of Aurora Avenue.
Today, thousands of visitors daily stroll the 2.8-mile paved path, enjoying a landscape that was literally shaped by ice and refined by the city's growth.
Updated June 2026