Center for Wooden Boats

The Center for Wooden Boats on South Lake Union (Seattle WA) is a hands on, interactive maritime museum, with links to the days of wooden sailing and power vessels. While there, not only can you view prime specimens of wooden small (and larger) craft, you can actually learn skills for building and repairing these magnificent craft.

You can also take sailing lessons and rent a sailboat with which to explore Lake Union.

Several of the vessels are available for unique experiences, such as: overnight stays on the tugobat Arthur Foss, weddings and parties aboard the old mosquito boat/ferry Virginia V, free public sail, canoe carving, and much more.

Once each year, the Center hosts the Wooden Boat Festival, during which there are activities for the whole family including exhibitions, wooden boat rides, wooden boats for sale, lectures and more. Thousands of people attend annually. In 2008, the Festibal will be held from 4-6 July, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Note that there is a wonderful family fireworks program at the north end of Lake Union (the CWB is at the south end) every fourth of July, so you could combine both activities this year for a great family holiday outing).

Here is a quick little video overview of the CWB: