Robot Explores Seattle's 'Shipwreck City' at Lake Bottom

Seattle's Lake Union bustles with kayakers and seaplanes every day, but few people know they're floating above a hidden graveyard of shipwrecks.

A team of researchers is using a remotely operated underwater robot nicknamed Finn to explore what they call "Shipwreck City." The lakebed holds dozens of sunken vessels, including barges, sailboats, and even a World War II minesweeper.

Phil Parisi, a robotics researcher who moved to Seattle recently, leads the exploration alongside Libbie Barnes from the Museum of History & Industry and longtime boat captain George Spano. They're documenting a piece of Seattle's maritime past that's been sitting right under the city's nose.

"This city's got so many amazing things," Parisi told KING-TV. "Let's not forget what's in our own backyard underwater in a lake that we use every day."

The team faced a challenge right from the start. Most of the roughly 100 underwater targets had only been mapped from above using sonar, with no one getting a close look.

Lake Union's murky water makes visibility tough, so the team uses GPS to get close before switching to the robot's side-scan sonar for precision. Finn carries lights and a camera to capture photos and videos of each discovery.

In 21 hours underwater across 34 targets, they've confirmed at least 20 wrecks and found two previously unknown vessels. Near Gas Works Park, they documented a 91-foot barge called Foss 54 and spotted a 45-foot wooden vessel with the name Irene still visible on its hull.

The work isn't easy. Rust, lake plants, and years of decay often hide registration numbers and painted names, turning each wreck into a puzzle.

Why This Inspires

Parisi's project shows how much history sits hidden in plain sight, waiting for someone curious enough to look. Lake Union formed 12,000 years ago when ice sheets carved the landscape, and the Duwamish people called its shores home long before settlers arrived.

The team isn't just finding old boats. They're recovering stories and connecting modern Seattle to its maritime roots, creating a comprehensive underwater archive for everyone to explore.

Along the way, Finn has also found tires and plastic waste, reminding the team that protecting these hidden treasures matters. "Allow curiosity to take over and do a deep dive into your local city or town's history," Parisi said.

Seattle's underwater time capsule proves that the most fascinating discoveries sometimes happen right where you least expect them.