Seattle – The Underground Tour and The Wheel
Moving on from Pike’s Market, our next stop was the 9:30am Seattle Underground Tour. Close to a 15-minute walk from Pike’s Market, the tour takes place in several existing buildings that you enter from alleys and side streets. The tour company, Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour” charges $20/person for the 1.5hr guided tour. No bad, actually pretty entertaining and interesting information about Seattle’s early history. The tour takes place in what used to be the ground level of Seattle’s business district. With a “flood problem”, powers-to-be decided to raise the ground level by filling in the bay area. Unfortunately for shop owners that meant their first level store fronts would be buried. Some had the forethought to include a second floor store front that they could open once the fill dirt had been brought in and then convert the first floor to a basement. These buildings are the underground tour.
Plans on how to fill-in the streets
Old street-front entry
Tour guide and building we toured. First floor is below ground with new entrance on second floor corner.
Basement view of glass skylight
Wood water pipe
Back in the days when the crapper matched your cookware
Street view of glass skylight
Hour and a half flew by and we’re heading back towards Pike’s Market to ride the Seattle Wheel and have lunch. Seems that every city now has a “wheel” where you can view the area for a few dollars. Our first “wheel” was in London and was pretty spectacular. This wheel, a little less spectacular. Still, break out the wallet and lets ride!
Collette’s “artsy” shot of The Wheel
Three loops and get out. Not bad for $13/person.