Seattle, Washington story
A Floating History
The Wagner House is one of Seattle's oldest surviving houseboats, but it didn't start its life on Lake Union. Built around 1909, it began as a summer home on Lake Washington near…
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The Wagner House is one of Seattle's oldest surviving houseboats, but it didn't start its life on Lake Union. Built around 1909, it began as a summer home on Lake Washington near Madison Park. In the 1950s, Richard Wagner bought the vessel, and he and his wife Colleen eventually converted it into the home of the Center for Wooden Boats.
Now moored at Westlake Avenue, this floating landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It serves as a reminder of a time when living on the water was a simpler, more adventurous way of life. It's a piece of maritime history that continues to drift and dream right in the heart of South Lake Union.
Updated June 2026