100 years ago today, on August 17th 1907, Seattle's' Pike Place Market overlooking Elliott Bay,
opened for business selling fresh local produce to shoppers. Of course, back in 1907 the "market" was just a few farmers selling their produce off the back of their wagons, and there were no fishmongers tossing fish over the heads of tourists!
The Pike Place Market is the nations oldest continuously open farmers market, quite a feat for such a comparatively young city. The market has had its' challenges over the decades fending off developers and neglect to become one of Seattle's best places to bring out of town guests, explore the unique shops and vendors' craft-work, enjoy a meal, and watch for flying fish! The main hall has banks of rich, colorful flowers, fruits, vegetables and fish arranged to entice the passing shoppers. The Pike Place Market is a place of adventure, excitement and entertainment!
There are many events scheduled to celebrate the Markets' Centennial. The festivities began in May when the Market put its' "Pigs on Parade" .
Those imaginatively decorated pigs are now scattered all over the Downtown Seattle, so keep an eye out for the fantastical pigs. Of course Rachel the Pike Place Market Pig is still accepting piggy bank donations and ready to pose for a photo with anyone who wishes.
Happy 100th Birthday Pike Place Market!
********************************************************************************
I Love Seattle! For more information about Seattle and Seattle Real Estate, please contact:
Deborah Burns
206-618-0565
BRIO Realty
Deborah.Burns.Seattle@gmail.com
Please visit my blogs at:
I am also a contributor to:
If you are Relocating to Seattle and thinking of Buying a Seattle Home, please contact me. As a Relocation Specialist I would be happy to help you make Seattle your new home.
If you are already living in Seattle, and thinking of Buying or Selling your Seattle Home, I would be happy to meet, and talk with you about the service I provide my clients as a Seattle Real Estate Agent.
Congrats to Pikes Place. A recent visit to Seattle a few years ago has never left me. Staying downtown and visiting Pikes Market was a great lesson in what works in getting people downtown. I actually read the book "Fish Mongrols"or something, got hooked on the concept and used the video done for customer service (again, Fish something, can't remember the name but remember the impact it had at our Chamber of Commerce annual dinner). Fun in the workplace and how it naturally attracts people and encourages them to have fun as well.
Thank you Seattle for having a great vision in your community. At the Straits of Mackinac up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the fishing industry dates back to the voyagers and indians from the 1500's and earlier. We have fish markets as well but not set up like Pikes and on the bay downtown, HOWEVER, you show how it can be done.
Cheryl Schlehuber, Mackinac Properties Real Estate & Vacation Rentals
Thank you Cheryl for sharing your memories and impressions of your visit to Downtown Seattle and Pike Place Market! It really is a vibrant and lively place to walk around, you never know what you are going to find around a corner.
I have never been to Michigan but I hope someday to do so when I eventually drive all around the US. Living in Seattle I am very close to Canada, but I have not been there yet either!
Hi Jonathan - Seattle does have a LOT of celebrations, last weekend was "Bumbershoot" a music festival at the Seattle Center (by the Space Needle). I am sure Palmdale has it's own fun festivals too! : )
Hi Deborah,
Now that looks like quite the celebration! Those pigs sure look pretty cool! :)
I missed this post way back when. My grand daughter was visiting, and we took a photo on one of those pigs. I took the BRIO gig while they were still here and life hasn't been the same since.
My only disappointment was I thought there would be a huge birthday cake, like the biggest wedding cake ever. Shouldn't have told my grand daughter because they brought out tiny cakes a few at a time. A big let down. It was the main reason I went.
Thanks for the pig photos though. You always take MUCH better photos than I do.
Hi Suzanne, it was fun, and now the pigs will be auctioned off at the end of the week!
Hi Ardell, I remember that your granddaughter was visiting then. Too bad about the disappointing cake...it should have been a VAST cake to take on the crowd that must have been there! I hope Xchotile (?) had a great time anyway, did she wear her princess tiara? Thanks about the photos : )
Deborah~
I missed this post...hope it got Featured at Localism.com!As a former resident of Seattle (7 years) I loved seeing your pictorial on Pike Place market.