When you think of touring our fair city, why not start off with Pioneer Square?
It is after all, Seattle’s very first neighborhood. It’s really just a matter of how you wish to see it. A guided walking tour; horse drawn buggy, view from the ferries, or maybe explore on your own—what ever you choose, you’re sure to find it a charming world like no other.

Situated between downtown and the stadiums, the International District and the waterfront, Pioneer Square enjoys a central location, easily accessible by foot, bus, trolley, car, commuter rail, train, or ferry. Landmark destinations abound in the twenty blocks that comprise Pioneer Square, including these notable places:

PIONEER SQUARE PARK & PERGOLA
Pioneer Square boasts the country’s largest concentration of Victorian-Romanesque architecture. At Pioneer Square Park, Seattle’s first permanent settlement, historic elements include the totem pole from the Tlingit American Indian village (1890), the Pioneer Building, constructed just after the Great Fire of 1889, and the Pergola (1905), designed to shelter passengers waiting for the cablecar that used to travel along Yesler Way.

SMITH TOWER
Standing 522 feet high, with 42 stories, the Smith Tower was the tallest building in the world outside Manhattan when it opened on July 4, 1914. Built by Cornelius Smith – a gun and typewriter tycoon whose initials still adorn the door handles – it was one of several box-like shape buildings being constructed at the time.

WATERFALL GARDEN
Located at Main and Second, this secluded, lovely park offers an oasis for sightseers, shoppers, and Pioneer Square locals with a majestic waterfall and surrounding seating. A popular lunchtime spot, Waterfall Garden is also wired with power outlets for those wanting to plug in outside. Privately built and maintained by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Waterfall Garden marks the birthplace of the United Parcel Service.

GRAND CENTRAL ARCADE
A vaulted brick arcade opening onto Occidental Park, the Grand Central Arcade houses a variety of shops, galleries, and offices. Formerly a Gold Rush era hotel, the Grand Central was rehabilitated in 1971 and has become a center of activity in Pioneer Square.

OCCIDENTAL PARK
In the heart of Pioneer Square, Occidental Park showcases Pioneer Square’s history through a historic glass pergola with heritage panels, towering totems, and the Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial. Sidewalk cafes and local businesses adjacent to the park link the cobblestone-lined space to the amenities in the neighborhood. In the summertime, tables and chairs are placed in Occidental Park to provide seating for residents, employees, and visitors to the neighborhood.

OCCIDENTAL PEDESTRIAN WALK
Continuing south from Occidental Park, the brick-lined Occidental Pedestrian Walk between S. Main and Jackson streets boasts several distinguished galleries, a coffee shop, and offices above. This inviting pedestrian thoroughfare celebrates Pioneer Square’s vibrancy and character.

FALLEN FIREFIGHTER'S MEMORIAL
Created by University of Washington graduate Hai Ying Wu, the Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial in Occidental Park pays homage to fallen firefighters, immortalizing them as heroes. On slabs of granite surrounding the life-size bronze sculptures are the names of 34 Seattle firefighters who have died in the line of duty throughout the Seattle Fire Department’s history.

KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH NATIONAL PARK
With sister parks in the Canadian Yukon and Skagway, Alaska, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park tells the story of Seattle’s role in the Gold Rush and the people who came to Seattle on their way to quests for gold further north. Featuring exhibits and artifacts, gold panning demonstrations, film shows, and interpretive talks, the Klondike is open from 9am to 5pm daily and admission is free.

WATERFRONT STREETCAR
Traveling from the International District through Pioneer Square along the waterfront past Pike Place Market up to Myrtle Edwards Park, the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar offers an optimal mode of transport. These vintage streetcars, named after former City of Seattle and Metro Councilmember George Benson, allow riders to travel in an enchanting streetcar through various destinations in and near Pioneer Square.

KING STREET CENTER/UNION STATION
Part of the multimodal at King Street Station, King Street Center’s clocktower marks a historic transit hub in Pioneer Square. Next to King Street Station, newly renovated Union Station celebrates the historic character of Pioneer Square, along with the vital role of Jackson Street as a transportation corridor since the early twentieth century.

TRIANGLE BUILDING
Built in 1909 with just eight rooms, the Triangle Hotel was said to be the smallest hotel on the West Coast. Today it houses residents and a pub, just across from Seahawks Stadium.