Downtown Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Ballast Island

Historical Point of Interest

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 17, 2011

1. Ballast Island Marker

Inscription. In this area once part of the bay, vessels from ports all over the world dumped their ballast. Untold thousands of tons were unloaded into the water by ship’s crews including 40,000 tons from San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill.

The island, long a gathering place for Indians on their annual migrations, was covered in the 1890’s by construction of Railroad Avenue (now called Alaskan Way).

Erected by The Yukon Club and Propeller Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 47° 36.037′ N, 122° 20.173′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in Downtown Seattle. It is at the intersection of Alaskan Way South and South Washington Street, on the right when traveling south on Alaskan Way South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 Alaskan Way South, Seattle WA 98104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Who Belongs Here? / Violence & Vitriol (a few steps from this marker); Chun Ching Hock (within shouting distance of this marker); Who landed here? (within shouting distance of this marker); Indians Attack Seattle! Jan. 26, 1856

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Why Shelly’s Leg? (about 300 feet away); Seattle’s First Pier (about 300 feet away); Pioneer Square Hotel (about 500 feet away); What was Yesler’s Way? / How did a parking garage spark a preservation movement? (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seattle.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Steamer Idaho Wreckage (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 17, 2011

2. Ballast Island Marker

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, February 20, 2026

3. Ballast Island Marker

A backdrop view of the marker which is currently behind a fence and south of a historic pergola.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,488 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 10, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on February 28, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.