History of Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. It is a place of business for many small farmers, craftspeople and merchants. Named after the central street, Pike Place runs northwest from Pike Street to Virginia Street, and remains one of Seattle's most popular tourist destinations.
The Market is built on the edge of a steep hill, and consists of several many levels, with the  upper street level containing fishmongers, fresh produce stands, flower vendors and craft stalls operating in the covered arcades. Local farmers and craftspeople sell year-round in the arcades from tables they rent from the Market on a daily basis, in accordance with the Market's mission and founding goal: allowing consumers to "Meet the Producer".

The Market is run by the quasi-government Pike Place Market Preservation and was set aside for the public with a special initiative that was passed on November 2nd, 1971 that made Pike Place market a historic preservation zone.

After our visit to the Pike Place Market, we enjoyed a ride on a giant gondola ferris wheel that was just opened two months ago, and which gave us beautiful views of the Seattle Water Front.

As you can see from my photos, Bruce and I, like many others posed on the the Pike Place pig at the entrance to the public market. In my photos, I also tried to capture some of the many vendors found at the market.