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Pioneer Square
Labeled as one of the most colorful neighborhoods in Seattle, historic Pioneer Square is where it all began.  In the days of the Gold Rush, hopeful gold miners headed up to the Klondike goldfields in the 1890s and made Seattle their outfitting center and it was this influx of gold and economy that made Seattle the large metropolis it is today. Pioneer Square is one of Seattle's first neighborhoods, established since 1851. The area is full of activities day and night. Among the most vibrant things you will find there is the architecture of its buildings and some sculptures scattered throughout the area. Other must see attractions are its art galleries, the restaurants, lots of unique shops unlike the tackier tourist shops on the Waterfront and it even has a waterfall! A small curiosity is the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, America's smallest national park. Do not be fooled, this is not a real park in the outdoors, it is actually a fascinating little museum located in a single room in an old antique looking store. This small museum chronicles the Klondike (the Klondike is in Canada by the way...) Gold Rush and it actually has another unit located in Skagway, Alaska. There are no admission fees and it is open from 9am to 5pm every day except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Once you are done wandering through the surrounding area and the small museum, sit down for a while and have a hearty lunch at one of the many restaurants located nearby. A nice place to sit, eat and relax is the Waterfall Garden Park, where the man made waterfall is located. A very interesting feature of Pioneer Square is the Underground Sewers. The sewer system of Seattle, that began here in Pioneer Square spans miles upon miles and deeper than you can imagine! There is a very interesting and rather hilarious tour called the "Underground Tour", brought to you by Doc Maynard. The tour will take you below the city and into the past of Seattle, and see what it looked like before the big fire of 1889.
Without taking the tour, you can go the painful route of self exploration by pretty much entering any manholes, sewer gates or whatnots.  But of course it is more fun if you have a colorful tour guide painting horrific stories of the supernatural and nocturnal beings the reside in the undercity. Unless you are quite certain of your sense of direction and come well prepared with a sewer map, a compass and other survival gear, it would be safer to take the tour. The sewer system is a maze of levels upon levels of waste and water tunnels that connect in a series of Y-like junctions, and for some reason they appear to constantly be sloping downwards. Upon initial entrance you will be taken through the upper levels, the newer sewer systems, then the mid levels, even deeper into the grown. You are also treated to a view of old undercity and the lower levels, yes can you imagine going that deep into the ground? There are even more pipelines that delve even deeper under the city and these are called the Catacombs, and even the best of the tour guides will not take you there. The existence of the Undercity came about in 1889 when the street level was raised about 30 feet above the original streets. This left numerous businesses below ground, hence the name Undercity. In the 20s the area was closed off and all that remains is the Underground Tour. The humor behind the Underground Tours lie in the stories that are weaved around the sewer systems of runaway kids and the homeless making their homes within the old city walls. Today, Pioneer Square is home to some of the rowdiest bars and taverns in the city. If you are ever in the mood for some history and the spice of old Seattle, Pioneer Square is definitely the place to be.
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Writer: Sunita D.
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Nearby Spots: International District · Capitol Hill District ···
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