History

For centuries, Echo Lake has been home first to Native Americans and then to European and Asian immigrants.  Fortunately the camera had been invented by the 20th century, and there is a pictorial record of activities on this busy lake!  Please see the following pages, with photographs and stories.

The Shoreline Historical Museum has gathered information and photos of the Echo Lake area, from the 19th centrury until the present day.  The curator of the museum, Vicki Stiles, worked closely with long-time resident Florence Butzke who donated her family pictures to the museum and gave several interviews.  There are also photos courtesy of the Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch.

Nearly all the development of the area was in some way tied to the endeavors of the Butzke family. The original beach is now the location of Echo Cove Condominium, built in 1968 just two years after the public beach closed.