What Are the Hidden Historical Gems in Seattle?
Seattle is a city with an impressive and fascinating present where the past plays important role. Pick Place Market and the Space Needle are both iconic sites that cannot be missed, but the real history of the city is in its lesser-known locations. Living in Seattle myself, I had a great occasion to research such obscure gems that can shed light on the everyday life in the Emerald City. At the end of the day, it is reassuring to know that credible house cleaners in Seattle are around for hire, leaving your house sparkling clean while you go out there and uncover more of the hidden gems in this beautiful city.
Pioneer Square and the Seattle Underground Tour
Take a step back in time at the Pioneer Square historic district – Seattle’s original town center. While driving through the area you get a feeling of greatness due to the buildings that resemble more the Romanesque revival architecture but there is so much more beneath the surface. The Seattle Underground Tour gives the visitor an opportunity to travel through the underbelly of the city which was at one time on street level before the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. During the tour, the guides speak extensively about the earliest times in the history of Seattle, some of its raucous and scandalous inhabitants, as well as their incredibly swift occupation by the gold hunters during the famous Klondike stampede.
The Center for Wooden Boats and Maritime History
The Center for Wooden Boats is an undiscovered treasure located at the lake union it is representative of Seattle’s maritime culture. This is quite a special type of museum it is all about wooden boat construction and the rich heritage of this art. Have a self guided tour of the facility, appreciate the finishes and designs of other boats on offer, or even hire a heritage boat and go sailing in the lake. It is not possible to afford the opportunity and travel to the Hiram M Chittenden Locks also famously referred to as the Ballard Locks to watch the movement of boats between the Lake Union and Puget Sound water.
The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
One of the interesting places to visit in Seattle is the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), which provides an in-depth look into the rich history of the city. Rich in range and character this museum is housed on the shores of Lake Union and in its possession are numerous artifacts and items which document the progress of this city from a small logging settlement to an urban hub. Visit on Wednesdays through Mondays, and learn from the artifacts that the original Rainier Brewing Company’s “R” sign was once used, and the Bouchet Bicycle, one of the region’s first bicycles, belonged to a man that marveled at watching wheels dance in the air. At MOHAI, visitors in Seattle will be presented with an interesting historical background, innovative achievements, and cultural values.
The Georgetown Steam Plant
If you want to gain a different insight of Seattle’s industrial history, Georgetown Steam Plant is worth a visit. This even though it is a National Historic Landmark, Now visitors can get a glimpse of how the city generated electrical power in the early years of the 20th century. It has been constructed in the year 1906 as power house to supply electricity to seattle’s street car systems and commercial establishments. Guided tours are still available for the public today and tourists are accommodated to witnessing enormous condensing steam turbines and generators which boosted the city’s development. Georgetown neighborhood itself might be of interest to the visitors as this area is famous for various art galleries as well as numerous shops and restaurants.
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park allows people to explore the personal stories and rich history of this great nation in one of the most popular vacation destinations of the time. Immerse with the thrill and struggles of the actual gold rush enthusiasts in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park located in Pioneer Square. Seattle also can also be considered important as a final staging area for prospectors who flocked to the Yukon Territory in the late 1890s in search of gold. This era is captured in the park’s museum with the help of an exhibit of graphics, real tools and gear, as well as true accounts of stampeders who trekked through Seattle on their way to gold fields. Don't forget the opportunity to try your hand at gold panning and imagine the thrill of striking it rich.
These off the beaten track histories of Seattle tell a portion of the city’s past that is seldom told, but should be brought to light. These gems ranging from underground tours to maritime museums are a delight and offer a rewarding experience for tourists willing to explore more of Seattle history. Therefore, when you are next in the Emerald City do not just stick to the popular tourist attractions but explore more, what you will find is amazing. You shall leave the tour with an admiration of the various individuals, occurrences, as well as inventions that have transformed Seattle into the modern city it is today.
