A writer, explorer, soldier and engineer, Hiram M. Chittenden helped shape history throughout the country. From serving in the Spanish-American War to documenting the fur trade industry of the "Wild West," Chittenden engaged the world from many different angles.

Hiram Chittenden

Here in Washington, his work on the Lake Washington Ship Canal carved him a place in local history. The locks of that canal, known as the Ballard Locks, honor his effort with its official name "Hiram M. Chittenden Locks."

Born in 1858 near Ithaca, N.Y. and a graduate of West Point Military Academy, Chittenden launched an engineering career as lieutenant of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His first assignment took him to Yellowstone National Park where, armed with a few rudimentary tools and aided by only two assistants, he layed out a road from Firehole River to the West Thumb of Yellowstone River in one season.

Eight years later, Chittenden succeeded in convincing Congress to designate funds for a complete road system in Yellowstone. Chittenden designed the system, which is still in use today.

After working on flood control projects for the Ohio River Basin and the Sacramento River in California, the tireless engineer headed to Seattle, where he became the District Engineer with the Corps.

At the turn of the century, the blossoming Emerald City faced many challenges in dealing with how to accommodate growth. During the late 1890s, for instance, logs and coal from eastern King County were transported to Seattle by train, which often required transferring the cargo more than 10 times due to insufficient railroad tracks.

The lengthy process begged for improvement, and Chittenden answered the call with plans for a ship canal.

His plans didn't materialize as quickly as his idea. A proposal by well-known developer James A. Moore to build a timber lock at Fremont for less than $1 million won the approval of Seattleites, and his plans were adopted by public vote.

After taking public officials on several site tours to explain his theory, Chittenden convinced them, plus Congress, that he was right.

After securing $2.275 million from the federal government for the project, Chittenden prepared to move his plans for a full-sized canal with a large masonry lock at Ballard, and a wide cut a Montlake, into action.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on the project Nov. 10, 1911, and the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Locks were finished six years later.