Washington State Parks
Washington State Parks is excited to offer Agents of Discovery at two parks sites in 2021! This educational platform will expand learning opportunities for our park visitors beyond what we have been able to offer in the past! Using Agents of Discovery, the history of the Franklin Ghost Town will come alive as never before and visitors to Saint Edward State Park can learn about native plants, salmon, animals that live in the park and other pertinent facts about the park grounds and Lake Washington. It’s a fun way for park visitors to enjoy each of our Agents of Discovery sites in a much more meaningful and in-depth way.
Washington State Parks has two properties featured in a program that gives you a new way to explore state parks: the Agents of Discovery mobile app! Parks staff were wrestling with including educational information at the Franklin Ghost Town in 2020. Due to the pandemic, the traditional approaches (such as in-person presentations or educational displays) were not desirable, for varying reasons. We’ve decided to try Agents of Discovery and we hope you like it! The Franklin Ghost Town is a lesser known state park facility, but Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore is the exact opposite, a well known and highly visited park. Both locations have unique features that are worth checking out! Including the Agents of Discovery Missions!
Missions
The Franklin Ghost Town
Did you know the Washington State Parks system includes a ghost town? It’s true! The Franklin Townsite, which no longer exists, was once the site of a bustling community that developed because of coal mining in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The town had a railroad, general store and housing for the miners and families. Today, you can find an old cemetery and remnants from the coal mining industry. The Franklin Mission includes 10 challenges, including a visit to the Franklin Cemetery, wildlife that calls Franklin home, history of the 1894 mining disaster, how coal carts were pulled out of the mines, life as a miner, the Franklin baseball team, trees you see at Franklin, the Franklin Hotel and a short history of the Franklin Townsite.
Don’t forget to dress accordingly and bring water and snacks!
Saint Edward State Park
Before Saint Edward became a state park, it was a Catholic seminary, which was blessed by the Pope after the seminary building was completed in 1931. Saint Edward was the first fully accredited seminary in the United States. Saint Edward closed in 1976 due to declining enrolment, and State Parks acquired the building and site in 1977.
The Saint Edward Mission also has 10 challenges, including a visit to the Grotto, the Native Plant Learning Garden, what native and non-native species can be found at Saint Edward, park activities available at Saint Edward, trees and salmon, the Orchard and a short history of Saint Edward State Park. Here you have access to the park’s amenities: Restrooms, picnic facilities, trails, paved parking, sports field and a newly opened hotel that is located in the remodeled former seminary building.
Step away from the hustle and bustle of city life at Saint Edward State Park and Franklin Ghost Town Park, and check out their Missions today! Learn more about the history behind these locations by playing through these Washington State Parks Missions on Agents of Discovery.
Agents of Discovery
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