Though Starbucks cups, Boeing planes, and Amazon delivery boxes might seem to define Seattle, this city boasts an extensive history. You can learn more by visiting these historical spots.
Pioneer Square offers an enchanting walk through Seattle’s original buildings. If that isn’t your cup of tea, take an underground tour with Underground Seattle!
Fort Nisqually
One of the greatest pleasures of visiting this historical location is being instantly transported back in time to 19th-century! Being a living history museum, all staff and volunteers wear period attire while also demonstrating crafts or engaging visitors in historical dialogue. Additionally, numerous special events like candlelight tours or bonfires take place all throughout the year!
Point Defiance Park is home to this historic fort established by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1833 on land overlooking Nisqually River delta and owned from 1833-1869 by them. As one of the first European settlements on Puget Sound, it quickly developed into a bustling trading hub both domestically and internationally in fur trade.
Fort Granary served to store wheat, oats and other grains grown by HBC and its subsidiary Puget Sound Agricultural Co. Ultimately Edward Huggins became an American citizen and homesteaded his post after it closed.
Old Rainier Brewery Building
Andrew Hemrich, originally from Wisconsin and an accomplished master brewer himself, relocated to Seattle and purchased land below Beacon Hill near a freshwater spring. He founded his brewery as Seattle Brewing and Malting Company (SBMC), eventually producing Rainier Beer as its flagship brand.
Rainier Beer was named for the 14,410-foot snowcapped mountain visible from downtown Seattle; unfortunately, like so many great regional brands before it, Rainier fell prey to corporate buyouts and now only exists in San Francisco and Canada.
This building is an iconic structure serving both as commercial and residential loft space. Currently it houses Tully’s Coffee headquarters, Bartholomew Winery and Red Soul Motorcycle Fabrications as well as an eclectic array of small businesses such as Factory Luxe, Little Red Day Spa and Old Habits Barbershop & Casual IND Clothing Co – as well as hosting its iconic neon red “R” that was replaced with a green “T” when Tully’s left the brewery roof in 2000. Additionally it will welcome back its iconic neon red “R”, that once graced its rooftop for years until Tully’s left and replaced it by a green “T”.
Arthur Foss Tugboat
The Arthur Foss is one of America’s oldest wooden-hulled tugboats and an icon of Northwest history. Mooring at Seattle’s Lake Union Park, it regularly hosts public programs.
At its inception, Wallowa was designed to transport sailing ships across Columbia Bar and help construct harbors and bases during Alaskan Gold Rush. She later became part of Foss Launch & Tug Company fleet after they purchased her in 1929, becoming famous through MGM’s 1933 movie Tugboat Annie as well as setting speed records up and down coast during her extensive rebuild – while also serving World War II service under her original name: Dohasan.
The Arthur Foss is an incredible sight when she’s working. When you enter its wheelhouse, you can hear its engine start using compressed air before hearing jangling noises produced as it sends signals via telegraph from wheelhouse to engine room; signal ringing tells crew members when captain has directed acceleration, deceleration or direction changes are being executed by engine.
The Seattle Public Library
Seattle’s library system encompasses multiple locations throughout the city, but its main branch was originally constructed near the turn of the century. After being relocated in 1960 by architect Rem Koolhaas’ design for an avant garde library with features like its first ever American library escalator as well as drive-in window for patrons to pick up reserved books without leaving their car, Seattle became known for its library system.
Budgets were tight for The Seattle Public Library during this era; budget cuts occurred despite Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal projects; however, they still managed to meet local citizens’ need for books.
In 1998, Seattle voters passed the Libraries for All bond measure to allow their library to renovate and expand their facilities. The new building on the old Carnegie site features an eye-catching design by architect Rem Koolhaas that is both striking and practical.
