Seattle Underground

OVERVIEW

Explore the remains of the original city that lie beneath Pioneer Square by walking the eerie subterranean passages with a guide that will regale you with stories of Seattle’s raucous past. A raging fire in 1889 destroyed a 25-square-block area and most of the district’s wooden buildings. During the re-construction that followed, fill dirt was added to raise the low-lying swampy streets and retaining walls were built, effectively burying the old city. For decades, this underground world was forgotten, as fire-resistant stone buildings were erected well above the former level of the city. Today, Seattle’s so-called basement is one of the city’s most unusual attractions. As you meander through the tunnel-like passageways, you will see Seattle’s original streets and first-floor storefronts of buildings that have been long buried. It will be like walking through a time capsule. To enhance the experience, the guide will describe the rogues and smugglers that once inhabited Seattle’s underground.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk along some of Seattle’s original streets, which have long been buried underground.
• Gain an understanding of how and why parts of the original city were covered over.
• Hear entertaining stories of the ne’er-do-wells that once lived in this underground world.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.