1996: Pike Place Public Market

In the heart of Seattle, overlooking Puget Sound's Elliott Bay, Seattle residents and visitors alike seek out the historic and flavorful Pike Place Market. The Market is much more than the sum of its vegetable and fruit stands, fish shops, meat markets, antique shops, restaurants and craft and jewelry stands. Generations of merchants have created the market over time, stringing together many haphazard structures filled with mystery, surprise and unknown possibilities.

The Pike Place Market was created in 1907. That year, wholesale produce dealers in the young city of Seattle were found to be abusing their middleman status by cheating farmers and gouging consumers.

Thomas Revelle, city councilman, researched public markets going back to ancient times. As a result, he launched a campaign aimed at eliminating the middleman and bringing the producer and consumers directly together. Even today, a large "Meet the Producer" sign marks the main entrance to the market.

On Saturday, August 17, 1907, wooden planks were laid out on Pike Street, named for John Pike, architect of the University of Washington. This location is believed to have been used by Indians as a trading area for hundreds of years before white settlers arrived. Due to threats from the wholesale produce dealers, only three wagons came that day, but they quickly sold all their produce to the thousands of customers eagerly awaiting them. Word of the crowds spread, and by the following Saturday 70 wagons arrived to sell produce.

This informal arrangement lasted for three years, because the city had little money for construction of actual buildings. Over time, however, simple buildings were erected, such as the Sanitary Market Building, so named because horses were not allowed inside it. A relaxed, come as you are environment, the Market today still reflects its original concept of emphasizing the product, direct from the source.

A leading principle of the market has always been that farmers sell only the produce they have grown themselves. In the early days, the job of the Market Master was to assign stalls by a first come, first served basis, and ensure that no sellers were operating as middlemen for growers. The same rules are in effect today, even for crafts people who must assure they have made their own wares.

The Market thrived for decades, enduring the difficult periods of the Depression and World War II. In the 1960's, however, Seattle's mayor, city council, and downtown business and development groups agreed that the time had come to demolish and modernize the Pike Place Market. Seattle professor Victor Steinbrueck started his "Save the Market" campaign in 1965. In 1971, his efforts were rewarded with approval to keep this historic site a market of farmers and small merchants.

In 1989, however, the Market faced a similar challenge from a soured tax write off deal with an investment partnership. Due to escalation in real estate prices, the Market again appeared doomed to development.

Peter Steinbrueck was eight years old in 1965 when his father, Victor Steinbrueck, had saved the Market. A quarter century later, in 1990, Peter mounted his own defense of the Market. Organizations and individuals around Seattle rallied behind his cause, a legal challenge based on the Market's Historic Preservation Ordinance. Thanks to his efforts, the cherished Pike Place Market again has a rosy future, welcoming tourists and natives alike.

The Pike Place Public Market is Northwest artist Betty Woods Gimarelli's third edition of The Seattle Ornament™, featuring 24K gold plate and her signature green, white and red wreath. She has created signature Christmas ornaments, both original and commissioned designs, for various Northwest organizations since 1989.

-Dashiel Wham, Writer (1996)