Saint Edward State Park is a 326-acre day-use park on the eastern shores of Lake Washington, an idyllic picnic spot just half an hour from downtown Seattle. Visitors can relax on sprawling lawns, explore miles of forested trails, or take a peaceful stroll along the shoreline. In the heart of the park looms the impressive Romanesque Revival-style seminary building, a striking brick structure which once held the first successful Catholic seminary in the Pacific Northwest and was the first accredited Catholic seminary university in the United States. The structure was commissioned by Seattle’s first bishop and was constructed in 1931, where it continued to serve students until declining enrollment led to the Diocese of Seattle to sell the property to the state in 1977. Today, the newly revamped seminary building is called the Lodge at St. Edward Park, a privately managed luxury hotel where guests can host events and unwind in historical elegance.
Heading southwest from the seminary building, you’ll find the Grotto, a river-rock alcove that was once used as a place of worship that is now a popular spot for wedding ceremonies. Whether you’re visiting for a sunny afternoon on the lakeside or hosting an extravagant event, there is the perfect blend of history and nature for any visitor to enjoy at Saint Edward State Park.
