Seattle, Washington story
A Floating Legacy
On the waters of Lake Union, there's a house that’s more than just a home. The Wagner House began its life around 1909 as a summer home on Lake Washington. In the 1950s, it was bo…
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On the waters of Lake Union, there's a house that’s more than just a home. The Wagner House began its life around 1909 as a summer home on Lake Washington. In the 1950s, it was bought by Dick Wagner, who used it to store and repair boats.
Together with his wife Colleen, Dick transformed this floating structure into the birthplace of the Center for Wooden Boats in 1968. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the houseboat was renamed in honor of Dick Wagner. It stands today as a floating memorial to the couple's passion for maritime history and their dedication to preserving the art of wooden boat building.
Updated June 2026