Stop by the Visitor Center at the East Parking Lot to obtain a park map with hiking trails (closed Mondays). Stop by the Discovery Park Visitor Center. He was the first European to sail into Puget Sound in 1792.ĥ. The park was named after Captain George Vancouver's ship, HMS Discovery. This is photo of the Blue Room at Fort Lawton, where missile strikes were coordinated.įort Lawton became underutilized over the years, and was eventually sold to the City of Seattle in the 1970s, to become Discovery Park. There were also 1,150 German POWs interned here, and 5,000 Italian POWs passed through on their way to Hawaii.įort Lawton again served as an embarkation station in the 1950s during the Korean War, and radar guided Nike anti-aircraft missiles, were held here during the 1950s. Over a million soldiers passed through here, and nearly 450 buildings were constructed to house these soldiers. However, parking passes are not available on summer weekends, when a shuttle operates between the Visitor Center and West Point Lighthouse.įort Lawton served as an embarkation station during WWII, for soldiers deployed to war. Parking passes are available at the Visitor Center for people with mobility issues, adults over 62, and families with kids under 6. The West Point Lighthouse is a 1.5 mile hike from any of the three parking lots at Discovery Park. Visit the stunning West Point Lighthouse. The Discovery Park Visitor Center is along Discovery Park Boulevard, Seattle, WA 98199, near the intersection of 36th Avenue West.ġ. Walk past the elegant buildings along the public roads, and admire their perfectly manicured gardens. Fort Lawton's 19th century military buildings have been carefully restored and many are now private residences. Collect bits of interesting driftwood, sink your feet in the sand, and breath in the bracing sea air.ĭiscovery Park also includes the historic Fort Lawton area. The highlight of Discovery Park is a visit to the sandy beach at West Point Lighthouse. On-leash dogs are permitted on the trails, but not on the beach. This suburban park has a network of well maintained trails that command spectacular views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Discovery Park is Seattle's largest park, with stunning forests and trails, leading to a lighthouse and beaches.ĭiscovery Park is an easy 15 minute drive from downtown Seattle, in the affluent neighborhood of Magnolia.

West point lighthouse seattle