Tour Pike Place Market and learn about its historical significance. This walk will be led by members of the preservation and advocacy group Friends of the Market, including architectural historian Mimi Sheridan.
Established in 1907, the Market is the longest continually run farmer's market in the U.S. and an iconic piece of Seattle, both past and present. Proposed by Seattle City Councilman Thomas Revelle as a solution to the increased demand for produce and goods from the city's nearby farms, he referred to its dedication as “...one of the greatest days in the history of Seattle.”
Prospering in the 1920s and 1930s, the Market was slated for demolition by the 1960s. Architect Victor Steinbrueck rallied citizens to “Save the Market,” resulting in a 1971 voter approved 17-acre historic district and establishment of the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority. Also established in 1971, the original Starbucks cafe at 1912 Pike Place is still in operation.
The future of the Market will be positively affected by the ongoing renovation project of Seattle's downtown waterfront. Learn about the forthcoming Pike Place Market - Waterfront Entrance designed by the Miller Hull Partnership: http://www.millerhull.com/html/inprogress/pikeplace.htm
More information about Pike Place Market: http://www.pikeplacemarket.org
This tour will break at 1:30 PM for those attending afternoon conference sessions at the Westin. The overall tour is likely to run longer and attendees are welcome to stay longer at the Market with our guides.
Maximum Participants: 20
Fee: $15
Accessibility: Walking, standing, maneuvering city streets and busy public areas. Possible cobblestone streets and steep city blocks within the Market.
Transportation: Walking (five blocks to the Market); meet your guide around the North Tower escalators on the Westin's Lobby Level before the 12:30 PM departure.
