Fort Lawton Beach

Visit a historic site and enjoy a leisurely stroll here.

Fort Lawton is named after Henry Ware Lawton, a soldier who fought in three separate wars and died in combat. This historical site has seen millions of people pass through over the years. It was founded in 1896 to keep an outpost to help protect Seattle from enemy attacks. Later, it would be redesigned in 1902 and 1910 with varying functions. At one point in time, the fort was used to prepare soldiers who were going overseas. It also housed the Buffalo Soldiers who came up from the Philippines.

In World War II, Fort Lawton became a hot spot and was refurbished to house 20,000 troops at a time. It did end up housing millions of soldiers and prisoners of war while it was in use. After years of service, in 2011, Fort Lawton was closed down, but it remains as a location with historical significance. Enjoy a walk along this beach and enjoy the sights and sounds of Seattle’s Puget Sound.