40
For centuries, the Salish Native 
tribes from the “water” met the 
“land” tribes to gather and trade 
at Dzidzilalich (dzee-dzuh-LAH-
leech), “the little place of crossing 
over,” which would become Seattle’s 
central waterfront. Since then, our 
waterfront has gone through many 
changes—from a port exporting logs 
and coal, to one importing goods into 
its deep water piers, to becoming 
home to the fleet that fishes Alaska. 
But an elevated highway blocked 
Seattle’s front door to Elliott Bay. 
After the Nisqually earthquake in 
2001, a plan was laid to bury Seattle’s 
traffic along the waterfront in a tunnel 
and open a 21-acre park alongside 
the five original piers.
After the Indigenous uses, the 
second use of the waterfront was 
to exploit natural resources. Henry 
Yesler built the first sawmill in 1853 
and “exported” logs and then lumber 
to California (where it built many of the 
Painted Lady homes.) In 1854, he built 
the first pier into Elliott Bay off the end 
of Yesler Way in Pioneer Square. 
Ultimately, dozens of piers were 
built into the bay, many of which 
were the western terminuses of 
railroads. Seattle’s natural deep 
water port made it easy for ships to 
bring commerce into and take away 
goods. The original shoreline along 
today’s central waterfront was 150 
yards east of the seawall today along 
1st Avenue. And between the shore 
and the piers were thousands of piles 
supporting nine different rail lines.
By the 1950’s it was difficult to 
cross those rail lines by horse, truck, 
car, or foot to reach the piers or pass 
through the downtown. So in 1953, 
the city opened the Alaskan Way 
Viaduct over the top of the rail lines. 
Ivar Haglund, who had opened one 
of Seattle first aquariums on Pier 3 
(now Pier 54) and a fish bar on the 
sidewalk and his Acres of Clams 
restaurant thanked the city for 
creating “acres and acres of covered 
parking under the viaduct for his 
Acres of Clams restaurant.”
But the viaduct created a barrier 
between the city and Elliott Bay, and 
when the Nisqually earthquake hit 
in February, 2001, the state and city 
came up with a plan to replace it 
with a tunnel. By getting the traffic 
off the streets, space for a 21 acre 
park was created, and thus the new 
waterfront park. After 15 years of 
construction, the final ribbon was cut 
in September 2025.
The park features over 100,000 
plants and more than 1,000 trees. 
After over 1000 planning meetings 
help by the city, the number one 
request among citizens was “to 
touch the water.” So there is a new 
habitat beach at the south end of the 
park next to the state ferry terminal:
While you visit the beach, Molly 
Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream is in 
the old terminal of the Washington 
Street Boat Landing.
From Colman Dock, you can take 
a ferry to West Seattle (15 minutes), 
Bainbridge (30 minutes), Bremerton 
& Southworth (30-60 minutes), or 
Kingston (60 minutes).
As you proceed north up the 
waterfront, you will find Ivar’s original 
restaurant, Acres of Clams and his 
walk up Fish Bar on the sidewalk. Be 
sure to find the patio on the west end 
of the pier with commanding views 
of the Seattle Fireboats, Washington 
State Ferries and container ships, 
and a view across Elliott Bay to West 
Seattle and the Olympic Mountains.
 On the north apron of Pier 54, find 
Great State Burgers, Premier Meat 
Pies, Seattle Harley Davidson, and Ye 
Old Curiosity Shop which has sold 
curiosities in Seattle since 1899. 
Between Pier 54 and Pier 55 is 
the Frankfurter, sells “the Best 
Dogs in Town.”
To take advantage of the water, 
you could cruise on an Argosy (Piers 
54 or 55) or Salish Sea Tours (Pier 
57) of Elliot Bay, or go for a Sail on 
a racing yacht (Let’s Go Sailing Pier 
56) or on Seattle’s Tall Ship (Pier 
66—Bell Harbor Marina). To watch 
whales join the Clipper on P69.
Do you like Oysters? Stop at 
Elliott’s Oyster House on Pier 56, or 
grab a quick meal at the WingDome 
on the sidewalk.
If you want Seattle art or novelties, 
try Simply Seattle on Pier 54, Ye Olde 
Curiosity Shop on the west end of 
Pier 54, the Seattle Harley Davidson 
store (on the north apron of Pier 54, 
Pirate’s Plunder on Pier 59.
If you want an adventure, Ride the 
Great Wheel, take an interactive ride 
on Wings Over Washington or the 
new Sasquatch ride. You can also 
dine on Pier 58 at the Fisherman’s 
restaurant, or the Crab Pot.
New Pier 62 offered 309 public events 
last year including S’Mores on the 
Shore and a soccer pitch, free public 
restrooms, and memorable views of 
Elliott Bay, the port, West Seattle, and 
the Olympic Mountains in the distance.
Welcome to Seattle’s 
New Waterfront!
Overlook Walk—a feature of Seattle’s revitalized 
waterfront—connects Alaskan Way to Pike Place 
Market and downtown. 
By Bob Donegan, Seattle Historic Waterfront Association

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.