Discovery Park, Seattle’s largest public park, occupies former Fort Lawton land on Puget Sound in Magnolia and blends forest, prairie, beaches, bluffs, trails, and historic sites. Created in the early 1970s from surplus military property and dedicated in 1973, it was named for HMS Discovery, commanded by George Vancouver during the first European exploration of Puget Sound in 1792. The park includes Daybreak Star Cultural Center, West Point, and the historic lighthouse, while some former military buildings remain. Known for open scenery and rich wildlife, it supports hundreds of bird species, marine mammals, and varied native plant communities, though invasive plants require ongoing control.