MEMORIES:
The object of a thousand jokes on rain, Seattle, Washington is well-known for its wet weather. It’s also known for a great number of things. It’s the home of the first Starbucks, as well as a number of gourmet cafes. Though it’s ground zero for grunge rock, producing musicians like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and Mudhoney (just to name a few), it’s also where KMFDM, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Heart, Jimi Hendrix, Sleater-Kinney and the Foo Fighters got their start. To many, a map of Seattle should be put in the dictionary next to controversy. Keeping with its left-leaning reputation, in 1999, Seattle was the site for the World Trade Organization, as well as some highly-publicized protests and riots by anti-globalization activists.
What the city’s known for aside, Seattle, settled in 1851, started from humble beginnings with big aspirations. Most of the Denny Party, the area’s most prominent Caucasian settlers, called the spot “New York” in the hopes that they would create a major trading port. Within a few decades and a few name changes, Seattle has grown to become a major world economic hub. After surviving the Great Seattle Fire in 1889, the city saw the Klondike gold rush of the late 18th and early 20th centuries, the Seattle General Strike (the first general strike in the United States), as well as a number of expositions – from the Goodwill Games in 1990, to the World's Fair, which was held in 1962.
If Seattle had an icon, it would probably have to be the Space Needle, which contrary to popular belief isn’t the tallest structure in the city. The flying saucer-topped landmark has been used as a location for a number of films, such as Elvis’ 1964 flick It Happened at the World’s Fair, the 1974 Warren Beatty thriller, The Parallax View, and was prominently featured on the opening credits for the sitcom, Frasier. The Space Needle was created for the Century 21 Exposition, the World’s Fair of 1962, along with the Seattle Center Monorail. (The monorail’s claim to fame is that it’s the fastest fully-sized monorail in the country, topping out at 50 mph). Also not to be missed are Smith Tower, the oldest skyscraper in Seattle, Pike Place Market, home of the first Starbucks, and the tallest of the skyscrapers in Seattle’s skyline, the Columbia Center.
Over the years, Seattle has become a hotbed for the performing arts. The Seattle Symphony Orchestra boasts as one of the most recorded orchestras in the world. Quincy Jones, Ray Charles came through the city’s booming jazz scene during the 1950s and 1960s. The late 80s and early 90s brought a resurgence of new music to Seattle. Grunge music would leave an indelible mark on the city and the country, creating a space for many acts to grow today. The poetry scene thrives in the coffee houses and festivals held in the city year-round. With the many museums the city has to offer, visitors and locals have a difficult time finding little to do.
Animals get a lot of attention up in Seattle, as well. The Seattle Aquarium, located on Elliot Bay, and the Woodland Park Zoo are regular must-sees. For those that wonder what the city was like before the Great Fire, there’s the Underground Tour which shows the landscape that remained underground after the fire using subterranean passageways.
Sports enthusiasts can find a lot up by Puget Sound. With the first American hockey team to win the Stanley Cup om 1917, the now-defunct Seattle Metropolitans, Seattle’s had a lot to brag about. Those who want to catch hockey in Seattle these days will have to pay a visit to the Thunderbirds who play in KeyArena. Other professional sports teams include MLB’s Seattle Mariners, NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics, and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, who lost against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Superbowl XL in 2006.
On a summer day, take a walk down Alki Beach, or check out Seafair, Seattles two-month long summer festival. Or just go to one of the main viewpoints in Seattle to catch breathtaking views of Puget Sound. Pike Market is the place to go year round, as local farmers come to sell their goods amidst the arcades and passageways. The list of things to do in Seattle can seem endless at times. All the more reason to visit more often!
