When planning a Seattle trip, sites like Pikes Place and the Space Needle are a no-brainer. Fortunately, I also discovered a Seattle underground tour.
Beneath the Streets is a Seattle underground tour that leads guests through subterranean passageways and shares the fascinating tale of how this unique space came to be.
The fire of 1889 forever changed the landscape of Seattle. Twenty-five blocks of downtown Seattle burned to the ground.
The rebuilt streets were raised to better combat tidal flooding. The result was a street level higher than the sidewalk.
Pedestrians had to climb ladders to reach the street level. Since this was inconvenient and hazardous, the sidewalk was covered to create a new sidewalk at street level. The passages below remained.
Seattle Underground Tour
We signed up for the Beneath the Streets underground tour on Tripadvisor.
This one-hour tour began at the check-in desk in downtown Seattle.
At the beginning of the tour, guests gather in a small room underground. Here, the tour guide shares a brief introduction and overview.
Next, the tour traverses many underground passages to hear stories about the area’s history.
You’ll walk through corridors that were once sidewalks.
And see how the sidewalks were eventually enclosed.
Then the tour goes above ground to historic Pioneer Square to see sites like the oldest standing restaurant in Seattle.
The Fallen Firefighter Memorial is located in Pioneer Square.
Smith Tower, built in 1914, was the first skyscraper in Seattle and was the tallest building west of the Mississippi.
The Washington Shoe Company manufactured shoes and boots for the Klondike-bound prospectors.
The tour ends on South Main St. near Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
Note: The Beneath the Streets tour includes going up and down stairs several times. While it isn’t particularly strenuous, it would not be advisable for guests with mobility challenges.
The Beneath the Streets Seattle underground tour is well worth the time and money. You get to explore parts of the city that you’d never see on your own. It’s definitely a unique way to see the Emerald City!
