Local Arrangements: Historians and the City

For the 119th Annual Meeting, Maureen Murphy Nutting, North Seattle Community College, chair; Walt Crowley, Historylink.org, co-chair; and members of the Local Arrangements Committee (LAC) will provide Association members with detailed information to make their Seattle visit thoroughly enjoyable. LAC members have wrtitten articles on the city and the region—including guides to museums, restaurants, and other points of interests— for the October, November, and December issues of Perspectives. Look for the Annual Meeting Supplement to the December issue of Perspectives, and bring it with you, as it will contain valuable information.

What Seattle Has to Offer

Visitors who want to do some advance planning for their Seattle stay can explore various aspects of the city and the region at a number of web sites, including its hotels, points of interest, and cultural institutions. HistoryLink.org, an online encyclopedia of Washington state history, has posted special content to orient, aid, and inform AHA members. This unique and popular site offers some 4,000 original, sourced essays plus special features such as an illustrated “10 Minute History of Seattle” and interactive “Cybertours” of Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market, downtown Tacoma, and other historical districts.

For a general tourist introduction to the city, visit the web site of the Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, clicking on “Visitor Information” for sections on suggested itineraries and to request a visitor’s information packet. After arriving in Seattle, visitors should drop by the bureau’s Citywide Concierge Center (CCC) in the convention center on Pike Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, located on the Galleria level, adjacent to the escalators. The staff can assist with services such as performing arts tickets (CCC is an official Ticketmaster outlet), sightseeing tickets, restaurant reservations, ground transportation of all kinds (taxis, vans, limos), and personal services (babysitting, flowers, spas, salons).

Seattle’s daily newspapers, the Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, provide current information on city museums, galleries, exhibits, concerts, and other events. The Times runs a weekend events edition on Thursdays and reviews of films and restaurant events every Friday. The PI’s “Outdoors” and “Lifestyles” sections provide local information from news about trail conditions to restaurant and performance reviews. The Seattle Weekly covers the arts and entertainment scene, and provides very entertaining reading on current news and other issues. The weekly’s annual “Best of Seattle” report, as weighted as the U.S. News and World Report’s annual listing of colleges and universities, will give visitors some idea of how locals rated everything from politicians to pubs and coffeehouses.

The city of Seattle’s web site has a list of walking tours, directions and maps, tips and guides, and general information on touring the region. The site also has a section on historic districts. The Downtown Seattle Association web site has useful information on parking, shopping, and other attractions in the area surrounding the convention center and meeting hotels. True Guides has a local guide for getting around Seattle’s downtown neighborhoods. Several commercial companies offer tours in Seattle and the area: Seattle Underground Tour, Gray Line of Seattle, Seattle Tours, Show Me Seattle, Seattle.com, Beeline Tours, and Sightseeing World. For information on visiting other places in the state, visit the Washington State Tourism web site, which lists places to go by region, statewide road trips, cities, and lodging.

If you prefer visiting the city’s attractions on your own, consider CityPass. Save 50 percent on admission fees and avoid ticket lines for the city’s top six attractions: Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Harbor Cruises, the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo, and the Museum of Flight. The packaged price is $39.50 for adults and $26.50 for youths aged 4–13. You have nine days to visit each attraction (once) beginning the day you first use your CityPass. You can purchase CityPass at any of the Seattle attractions, or you can buy online. Once you have your CityPass, simply present your booklet on your way into each attraction. The agent will remove that attraction’s ticket—they are void if removed by anyone else.

Tours Organized by the Local Arrangements Committee

The Local Arrangements Committee has organized the following tours. Advance registration is highly recommended. At the meeting individuals can check at the AHA information desk in the Convention Center up to twenty minutes prior to scheduled departure to see if the selected tour is filled. Additional information about these tours and recommended commercial tours of the city and neighboring areas will appear in fall issues of Perspectives.

Washington state teachers: please note that you can receive continuing education credit for the tours. For additional information, please contact Miriam Hauss (202) 544-2422, or Amy J. Kinsel (206) 546-4679.

The LAC’s free-to-affordable city and neighborhood tours are scheduled from January 6 through 8, with several offered during lunch breaks on Friday and Saturday, January 7 and 8. Tour groups should gather in Convention Center 206, nearby the LAC office (Room 201), at least ten minutes prior to the beginning of the tour. The LAC suggests that those taking free tours “pass the hat” at the conclusion to collect a donation for the organization generously offering the tour.

To sign up for one or more of the following tours, please print the LAC Tour Sign Up form (PDF file), and mail along with a check payable to HistoryLink.org to:

Maureen Murphy Nutting,
History Department, MS3, North Seattle Community College,
9600 College Way North,
Seattle WA 98103.

Mail no later than December 15, 2004.

• Tour 1: The Queen City: A Tour through Historic Downtown Seattle

Date, time: Thursday, January 6, 2:00–3:30 p.m.
(Tour also offered Saturday, January 8, 12 noon; see Tour 5.)

Description: Enjoy a 90-minute walk though the metropolis of the Northwest, led by Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) Executive Director Leonard Garfield. Sites along the way include the original campus of the University of Washington and the planned commercial district that replaced it in the 1920s; historic theatres that made Seattle a center of the film and vaudeville circuits; early skyscrapers from Seattle’s early 20th-century boom; and a visit to the beloved Pike Place Market, a Progressive-era institution built to connect city dwellers with farmers. (No fee for tour.)

• Tour 2: Seattle’s Asian Communities: A Tour of Wing Luke Asian Museum and the International District

  Date, time: Friday, January 7, 11:45 a.m.

  Description: LAC member and Seattle University history professor Kan Liang will accompany the lunchtime tour group to the Wing Luke Museum, where staff will introduce them to this unique site for culture and history of Asian Pacific Americans, then send them off with a local guide on a walking tour of Seattle’s International District/Chinatown, ending with a dim sum lunch. (Fee: $15, includes museum tour and lunch.)

• Tour 3: Strike Out for the Klondike: A Tour of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park-Seattle

  Date, time: Friday, January 7, 12 noon

  Description: Experience Seattle’s role in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 to 1898, when tens of thousands of people from across the United States and around the world descended upon Seattle’s commercial district. While in Seattle, the hopeful miners purchased millions of dollars of food, clothing, equipment, pack animals, and steamship tickets. The final outcome of this great stampede helped shape the Seattle we know today, bolstering the city’s reputation as the Queen City of the Pacific Northwest. Led by a park ranger, the lunch-time tour will include a visit to the park, an overview of Seattle’s gold rush history, the park’s museum exhibits and interactive archives that help tell the gold rush story, and a walking tour of the Pioneer Square Historic District. (No fee for tour.)

• Tour 4: First Hill Lives and Times in Turn-of-the-Twentieth-Century Seattle

  Date, time: Friday, January 7, 12 noon

  Description: Historic Seattle and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s Larry Kreisman, local authority on Seattle’s architectural history, will provide insights into the architectural character and interior design features of two important Seattle historic homes, the Stimson-Green Mansion (1899–1901) and the Dearborn House (1907) on this walking tour of Seattle’s First Hill. Both homes provide a look at the life and times of First Hill when it was the location of private clubs, important religious institutions, and swank hotels. It was also the city’s premier residential enclave from the 1890s through the first decades of the 1900s; home to mayors, judges, industrialists, timber barons, and art collectors. On the way back, this tour will make a stop at one of the symbols of turn-of-the-twenty-first-century Seattle, the new Rem Koolhaus-designed Seattle Public Library building. (No fee for tour.)

• Tour 5: The Queen City: A Tour through Historic Downtown Seattle

  Date, time: Saturday, January 8, 12 noon (Tour also offered Thursday, January 6, 2:30 p.m.; see Tour 1.)

  Description: See Tour 1. (No fee for this tour.)

• Tour 6: Boat Trip: Tribal and Environmental Histories on the Duwamish River

  Date, time: Saturday, January 8, 12 noon

  Description: It seems every city has its river, but few locals or visitors know much about the history of the Duwamish. From rich estuarine abundance to polluted industrial waterway to haven of restoration efforts—and from indigenous homeland to urban metropolis—the Duwamish River has many layers of history. Join members of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and University of Washington historian Coll Thrush for an exploration of the river’s Native American and environmental histories. From the comfort of an enclosed cabin, participants will examine some ten thousand years of history in this most complex of places. (Limit: 20 people. Fee: $20.)

• Tour 7: Gay and Lesbian Sites in Seattle

  Date, time: Saturday, January 8, 2:30–4:30 p.m.

  Description: Join the AHA affiliate Committee on Gay and Lesbian History and the community-based Northwest Lesbian and Gay History Museum Project for this walking tour through Seattle’s former skid row, which was the center of a thriving queer community from the 1920s through the 1970s. Visit the sites of world-renowned cabarets, venues for political scandals that shook City Hall, the route of the Northwest’s first Pride Parade, and other places that shaped the origin of one of the nation’s most visible gay and lesbian communities.
  (No fee for this tour.)

Seattle Points of Interest

The following information about points of interest in Seattle is listed by district and has been compiled from the web sites indicated.

Downtown Seattle and Waterfront

Pioneer Square is the cultural heart of Seattle featuring over twenty city blocks of historic buildings, more than thirty galleries, a varied retail sector, and an exciting nightlife. The area is situated between downtown and the stadiums, the International District and the waterfront. Places to visit include the Smith Tower, Waterfall Garden, Grand Central Arcade, Occidental Park, Klondike Gold Rush National Park, Waterfront Streetcar, King Street Center/Union Station, and several bookstores (including Elliott Bay Book Co. and Seattle Mystery Bookshop). See the web site for maps, locations, walking tours, and parking information.

Pike Place Market is a nine-acre historic district, open seven days a week year round. Started in 1907, the market remains a vital part of Seattle’s social and economic fabric nearly a century after its founding. The main entrance is at Pike and First Streets. Official hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but individual shop hours vary. Some restaurants, bakeries, fish markets, and farmers are open earlier, while several restaurants are open into the late evenings. Visit the web site for dining and shopping guides, tour details, and parking information.

The Seattle Art Museum has two locations: SAM Downtown and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The downtown facility—site of the "Hammering Man"—is located at 100 University Street, on First Avenue between University and Union Streets. Hours: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday, Thursdays until 9:00 p.m. Admission: $15 adults, $12 youth 7–17 and senior citizens 62 and over, free for children 6 and under. Admission is free on the first Thursday of the month. The collections of the Seattle Art Museum number approximately 23,000 objects, representing a wide range of art from ancient Egyptian reliefs to contemporary American installations using photography and video. The collections are particularly strong in Asian, African, Northwest Coast Native American, modern art, and European painting and decorative arts. The museum started an expansion in January 2004 with the demolition of the area adjacent to the building. Visitors should check SAM’s web site before visiting, as hours and access may be impacted.

The Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, at Pier 59 on the Waterfront. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily, with last entry at 5:00 p.m.; exhibits close one hour later. Admission: $11.50 adult, $7.50 youth 6–12, $5.25 children 3–5, free for children 2 years and under. Visit the web site for current exhibits, daily talks, feeding times, and demonstrations.

International District

As one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, Chinatown-International District has a rich history. For many years the area has served as the cultural hub for Asian Americans in the area. The district is situated south of downtown not far from the waterfront on reclaimed tide flats. During the massive Jackson Street Regrade completed in 1910 muddy wasteland was filled in with earth and the Chinatown-International District was born. See the web site for historical walking tours.

Wing Luke Asian Museu, 407 Seventh Avenue. Hours: 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 12:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission: $4 adults, $3 students and seniors, $2 youth 5–12, free for children 4 and under. Tours cost an additional $3.50 per person. The first Thursday of every month is free. Visit the web site for a listing of permanent exhibits, forthcoming exhibitions, and upcoming events.

Capitol Hill

Located in the heart of Seattle, Volunteer Park is home the Volunteer Park Conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The Volunteer Park Conservatory, 1400 East Galer Street, is open daily 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Admission is free. The park’s name honors volunteers who served in the Spanish-American War. Over the years various specialty plant collections have been built, including an extensive orchid collection and five houses: the Bromeliad House, the Palm House, the Fern House, the Seasonal Display House, and the Cactus House.

The Asian Art Museum, entrance at 14th Avenue East and East Prospect Street. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Wednesdays–Sundays, Thursdays until 9:00 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission: $3 suggested donation for general admission, children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult. Admission free on the first Thursday and Saturday of the month.

Seattle Center

The original grounds of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair have been transformed into a center for arts and culture. Seattle Center is home to the Space Needle, the Children’s Museum, the Pacific Science Center, the Experience Music Project, the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, the Opera House, a sports arena, and a host of other venues. See the center’s web site for a complete listing.

The Seattle Center Monorail has been out of service following a fire on May 31, 2004. A bus shuttle is operating in place of the Monorail. The pickup/drop-off location is located on Pine Street between 4th and 5th Streets. A monorail ticket attendant is stationed adjacent to Starbucks in Westlake Plaza. Ticket purchase at the Seattle Center end is available at the pickup/drop-off location at the Experience Music Project turnaround at Harrison and 5th Street. Roundtrip fares are $3.00 for adults, $1.50 for youth ages 5–12, $1.50 for senior 65 and older, disabled, and persons with Medicare cards. Children 4 and under are free. One-way fares are one-half of the roundtrip price. The bus shuttle operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Shuttle busses depart approximately every 10 minutes. Check the Monorail’s web site for Rider Alerts to see if the monorail will be in operation by the time of the AHA annual meeting.

Space Needle, 400 Broad Street. Hours: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. daily. Admission: $13 adult, $11 senior 65 and up, $6 youth 4–13, free for children 3 and under. The focal point in Seattle, the Space Needle completed a $20 million revitalization in 2000 and is the city’s number one tourist attraction. A 41-second journey in one of three glass elevators takes visitors to the newly remodeled Observation Deck, revealing a. panoramic view of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, Lake Union, and the city’s hills and dales.

The Children’s Museum, 305 Harrison Street, on the first level of Center House in Seattle Center. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission: $7.50 adults and children, $6.50 grandparents and over 55, free for children under the age of 1 year. The museum features six permanent exhibits, including Global Village, MindScape, and Time Trek. Check the web site for a listing of special exhibits and studio programming.

Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Avenue North, under the five white arches near the Space Needle. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. daily. Admission: $10 adults, $8.50 seniors 65 and older, $7 youth 3–12, free for children 2 and under. See the web site for listing of current exhibits, IMAX movies, and laser shows.

Experience Music Project, 325 Fifth Avenue North. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday–Saturday, closed Mondays. Admission: $19.95 adults; $15.95 seniors, $15.95 youth 13–17, $14.95 children 7–12, free for children 6 and under. Jimi Hendrix’s resonant lyric "Are you experienced?" is recalled in the name of software billionaire Paul G. Allen’s Experience Music Project. Opened in 2000, the museum’s unique design and 140,000 square feet includes galleries dedicated to music artifacts, interactive exhibits, and the soaring Sky Church Concert Hall.

The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is co-located with the Experience Music Project at the base of the Space Needle. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday–Saturday, closed Monday. Admission: $12.95 adults, $8.95 youth 7–17 and seniors 65 and up, free for children 6 and under. Special pricing offers access to the museum and the Experience Music Project. The museum opened in June 2004 and is the permanent home of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Visit the web site for a listing of current exhibits and calendar of events.

Green Lake

Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Avenue North, the South Gate Entrance located at North 50th and Fremont Avenue North. Hours: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. daily. Admission: $10 adult, $7 youth 3–12, free for children 2 and under.

University District

The Burke Museum of National History and Culture is located on the northwest corner of the University of Washington campus near the corner of 17th Avenue N.E. and Northeast 45th Street. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. first Thursday of each month. Admission: $8 general, $6.50 seniors, $5 students and youth 5 and up. Free to the public on the first Thursday of each month. The Burke Museum is a major national resource for information on the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest.

The Henry Art Gallery () is located on the western edge of the University of Washington campus at 15th Avenue N.E. and Northeast 41st Street. Hours: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Thursday. Admission: $8 general, $6 seniors 62 and older, free for high school and college students with ID and children 13 and younger. Admission is free Thursdays 5:00–8:00 p.m. The Henry Art Gallery is the art museum of the University of Washington and is a nationally recognized center for the exploration of visual culture and the Pacific Northwest’s premier modern and contemporary art museum.

Museum of History and Industry (), 2700 24th Avenue East, in McCurdy Park just south of Husky Stadium, off State Route 520 south of the Montlake Bridge. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. first Thursdays. Admission: $7 adult, $5 youth 5–17 and senior 62 and up, free to children 4 and under. First Thursdays of the month are free to the public. MOHAI opened in 1952 and is now the largest private heritage organization in the State of Washington, collecting and preserving the history of the Pacific Northwest’s diverse cultural, social, and economic history.

South Seattle Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way South. Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily, 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. first Thursday of each month. Admission: $12 adults, $11 seniors, $7.50 youth 5–17, free for children 4 and under. Museum admission is free of charge 5:00–9:00 p.m. on the first Thursday evening of every month. The Museum of Flight’s collection of aerospace artifacts is the largest and most comprehensive in the western United States. It recently acquired a British Airways Concorde, the only one on the West Coast.