| What makes it historical? |
The Pike Place Market arose in the aftershocks of the Klondike Gold Rush! The demand for produce by Seattle’s new population of 80,000 was astronomical, but farmers were limited to using middlemen to sell their goods. That wasn’t very profitable! So the farmers raised their prices, customers started to complain, and something just had to be done!
Two folks really brought this conflict to a peaceful resolution. The first was City Councilman, Thomas Revelle, who set aside this area as a direct market place for farmers and buyers on August 17, 1907. The second was developer Frank Goodwin, who invested his Gold Rush fortune in the construction of a permanent marketplace later that year!
The years changed the face of the market a good deal. In 1937, the Market’s famous neon sign was installed to draw more people, but in 1942, most of the resident farmers were taken away and interned because of their Japanese heritage! The Market went downhill from there but was saved from demolition in 1969 by the Friends of the Market organization! Today, it is a premier spot to sample delicious fruits, browse Seattle souvenirs, and watch huge, fresh fish get tossed like footballs across the stall!
Enjoy your visit, and be sure to leave a few coins in Rachel the Piggy Bank! She not only helps keep this historical market in tip-top shape, but she also helps fund local community projects! |
