A Little History. One of the most important decisions in regards to the city that still affects it to this day is the decision to raise the streets. Seattle's most unusual attraction: a guided walking tour through historic Pioneer Square. From April -September, the company operates from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. From October - March, the hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. UNDERGROUND TOUR - History of Seattle's Underground No, because the underground under each business is owned by that particular business and the tour rents access to the underground from individual businesses. BILL SPEIDEL'S UNDERGROUND TOUR is a leisurely, guided walking tour beneath Seattle's sidewalks and streets. And parking lots. Seattle Underground - Seattle, Washington - Atlas Obscura Typically, Henry had discovered a method of looking like he promoted the good of the city while conveniently dumping his mills waste into nearby streets. I frankly told them they were the hunk of meat hanging in the tree that I was jumping for, and if 25 letters could kill off topless dancers, 300 could get the neighborhood designated an historic district. [1] Bill Speidel's Underground Tour. Underground Tour - A Tour of Seattle's Under Ground. Since Memorial Day weekend 1965, the Underground Tour has given several tours a day every day except holidays and is one of the city's best known tourist attractions. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Desperate for another source of water, firefighters scrambled to the nearby shores of Puget Sound and found the tide was out. Easy booking, shuttle. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. UNDERGROUND TOUR - A Tour of Seattle's Under Ground Comfortable shoes, a love for quirky historical yarns, and an appreciation of bad puns are musts. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour. Speidel is also credited with being one of the leaders of the movement to preserve and restore Pioneer Square, one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods. Following a short intro, we'll walk through . The Great Seattle Fire of 1889. The Great Seattle Fire of 1889 - CityArchives. Because of this, plumbing was an issue, and toilets often spewed water and sewers worked backwards. The tour guide was engaging and m We had a great tour guide and the tour was interesting. However, all opinions stated in this post are honest and my own. 8 Things To Do Within Walking Distance of Seattle's Pike Place Market Meanwhile, Speidel fed each discovery to the newspapers. Take the James Street Exit from Interstate 5 . Speidel, William (1957). Does the tour end up right from where you started? - Bill Speidel's 614 1st Ave. Seattle, Washington. Seattle's most unusual attraction is a humorous tour of subterranean storefronts and sidewalks entombed when the city rebuilt atop itself after the Great Fire of 1889. 608 1st Ave. Read more. By that year, Pioneer Square had fallen into such a state of disrepair few recognized it as the citys birthplace. Take the James Street Exit from Interstate 5. Bill Speidel's Enterprises Inc., operator of the Underground Tour, is Seattle's most unusual attraction, a humorous stroll through subterranean storefronts and sidewalks entombed when . Yon Montoto November 10, 2013. After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 . P, The year is coming to an end, and, like I've been. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. He reminds us of who we were before Microsoft, Starbucks, Ichiro and Death Cab for Cutie. I loved it! Until 1978, when Bill Speidel wrote, Doc Maynard: The Man Who Invented Seattle.. 614 1st Avenue, in Pioneer Place Park, Pioneer Square, between Cherry and James Street. Underground Tour Early fill came from Henry Yeslers steam-powered sawmill, which repaired potholes with what they had the most of: sawdust. Specialties: Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is a leisurely, guided walking tour beneath Seattle's sidewalks and streets. In 1889, the Great Seattle Fire turned the entire downtown business district to ash and ruin. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Written 14 June 2023. The story of Bill Speidels Underground Tour begins in 1954. One thing both men shared was the absolute determination to get a city going here. This page is not available in other languages. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour, Seattle | Roadtrippers Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In some places, there are even glass panes (manganese glass, a lovely lavender color) where people can see the everyday people of Seattle walk overhead. (206) 682-4646. These differences fueled a long-standing tension between the two. [2] History of Seattle, Washington. History of Seattle, Washington. Doc Maynard had a sense of humor, Denny didnt. A Little History; 614 1st Avenue, in Pioneer Place Park, Pioneer Square, between Cherry and James Street. The citys birthplace lay virtually undisturbed, like the ruins of Pompeii, for nearly two-thirds of a century, before it occurred to anyone that it might be a good idea to preserve it. Although Speidel started the world-famous Underground Tour, spearheaded the campaign to preserve Pioneer Square, wrote a best-selling Seattle history (Sons of the Profits), and rediscovered one of Seattles early heroes (Doc Maynard), he is remembered most for his witan irreverent sense of humorand an unflagging enthusiasm for promoting Seattles lusty past. A SoCal Way of Life received two complimentary tickets in exchange for our review of the experience during the Underground Tour. It's history with a twist! Speidel ultimately did find the remains of the city consumed in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, a town founded on mostly soggy tideflats whose streets would, whenever the rains came, bloat deep enough with mud to consume dogs and small children. In addition to that, the fire fighters at that time were all volunteers. The towns proximity to sea level caused a new problem, literally, to rise up. About us. New 2023 AUSTRALIA ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY TOUR!! Even the City Council was impressed and took a tour of inspection. Twice a day when the tides came in, the sewers flowed with itbackwards. There is now an intricate and expansive array of subterranean passageways and basements beneath Pioneer Square, and Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is the only way to explore them. Vessels were charged for dumping ballast off at the foot of Washington Street. The tide had them coming and going in those days. 8 & 9 pm, October-March Alternatively, you may use, Bill Speidel's Underground Tour Questions & Answers, Ghost & Vampire Tours, Historical & Heritage Tours. William C Speidel (19121988) was a columnist for The Seattle Times and a self-made historian who wrote the books Sons of the Profits and Doc Maynard, The Man Who Invented Seattle about the people who settled and built Seattle, Washington. The Preservation Act and related ordinances at the state and local levels, were designed to preserve historic character and ensure sensitive restoration in old neighborhoods. UNDERGROUND TOUR. Bill Speidels Underground Tour - Trip.com Be My Guest! Ghost & Vampire Tours Historical & Heritage Tours. They laughed and nodded and said pleasant things in unison. But they didnt exactly a-go-go. Speidel was an irreverent historian, PR man, and former Seattle Times reporter who took it upon himself to preserve historic Seattle, and this tour is packed with his sardonic wit and playful humor. Washington Architectural flourish found in the Underground. Thats where the city of Seattle sat. The creation of the Underground Tour both simultaneously exposed locals to the intact city beneath their feet, and restored the city's birthplace, Pioneer Square, which is where the tour is centered. BILL SPEIDEL'S UNDERGROUND TOUR is Seattle's most unusual attraction, a humorous stroll through intriguing subterranean storefronts and sidewalks entombed when the city rebuilt on top of itself after the Great Fire of 1889. Take the James Street Exit from Interstate 5. The Bill Speidel Seattle WA underground city tours begin every hour, on the half. Speidel graduated from the University of Washington in 1936, during the throes of the Great Depression, with a degree in literature. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. It was this decision that created the Underground: The city built retaining walls, eight feet or higher, on either side of the old streets, filled in the space between the walls, and paved over the fill to effectively raise the streets, making them one story higher than the old sidewalks that still ran alongside them. The tour route passes disused storefronts, artifacts, and multiple tunnel entrances. The tour highlights the latter because he owned much more Seattle land than Denny did, yet is often overlooked when discussing the history of the town. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Ltd. All rights reserved, Districts of Republican Subordination Travel, Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, Coolest Places to Beat the Heat this Summer. St. Patrick's Day at 7 & 8 pm [4] The Great Seattle Fire. Washington. Bill Speidel. prabook.com. Cliffs and streams. The reader did show up, along with 500 other people. So it was that the city got a little something on the side while helping early realtors make their own land from scratch. See all things to do. Even in the tiny frontier town of Seattle, indoor toilets became the rage. Bill Speidel's is considered one of the best, providing a fascinating glimpse into the city's past, including its old storefronts, while hearing the riveting tales of its early pioneers and their exploits. It brought in about $120,000 in relief money and glory, because we were a brave little frontier town that had been wiped out and was manfully trying to rebuild itself.. Daily After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. After trees were cut and wagons passed through, it was one muddy mess. Copyright 2023 Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. The tour is well worth the cost and way more fun with the group. Must be 21 and older with an official passport or a valid ID issued by a US state, territory or the District of Columbia, or by a Canadian province. The liability from allowing people to roam freely down there would be too large. Underground Tour, Bill Speidel's | Visit Seattle Bill Speidel's Underground Tour - Yelp Exploring Seattle's Underground in Pioneer Square: Hidden History in Seattle. Jen There Done That, January 19, 2020. https://jentheredonethat.com/seattle-pioneer-square/. Where the land was not soggy from Puget Sound seepage, it was saturated by rainfall. Doc Maynard was forgotten. Written 14 June 2023. Easy booking, shuttle read more, This expertly guided, behind-the-scenes journey tells the rich story and, The Kaneohe Sandbar Early Morning Tour for a limited time! sell out in peak season, and August is our busiest month of the year. What restaurants are near Bill Speidel's Underground Tour? Get Unfiltered Seattle History. Speidel, the man who created the Underground Tour, is remembered most for his wit and his irreverent sense of humor.[6] The man lived until 76, but not before spearheading the campaign to preserve Pioneer Square by creating the Underground Tour. Alternatively, you may use, Bill Speidel's Underground Tour Questions & Answers, Ghost & Vampire Tours, Historical & Heritage Tours. Each underground is locked, and the tour companies pay rent to the property owners to go through their tour route under each property. Though the devastation left in the wake of the fire was great, many people of Seattle actually saw this as a great opportunity; they could get a fresh start. Messiah_Dillon:Here are some hotels near Bill Speidel's Underground Tour: The Westin Seattle,Sheraton Grand Seattle,Crowne Plaza Seattle,The Arctic Club Seattle, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel,Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle-Downtown. We picked Bill Speidel's Underground Tour, over other Underground tours; and I'm glad we did. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. [7] Jacob Furth, whom Speidel wrote "may even have been the most important citizen Seattle ever had"[8] was highly lauded at the time of his death in 1914, but later became, in Speidel's words, "a neglected giant", with "scant mention in our history books" and "no streets, statues, parks or public buildings to honor him. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour times. The tour concludes in the Underground Tour's Rogues Gallery, which features photos of characters featured in the tour narrative, as well as Northwest memorabilia from Seattle's early days. Underground Tour, Bill Speidel's | Visit Seattle If you're looking for a way to switch up your tired routine, Seattle's Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is the place for you. Seattle Tourism Seattle Vacation Rentals 614 1st Avenue, in Pioneer Place Park, Pioneer Square, To level the land, they used anything they could find: timber, sawdust, dirt from nearby hills, and even everyday trash. I can do anything Shirley makes up her mind I can do, Bill Speidel later recalled. Spice up your weekend, give this place a call today. And a whole lot of mud. The Great Seattle Fire of 1889 killed over a million rats, destroyed 25 blocks of buildings, homes, and businesses, and caused 5,000 men to lose their jobs. Seattle Underground - Wikipedia It was really interesting and didnt take an entire day. Why dont you get Pioneer Square restored? she asked him. Pioneer Square was finally made into a Historic District in May, 1970, thanks to hundreds of eager locals rushing to take tours. Great tour. [4] Though the streets were raised, there were still gaps in between the streets, where houses were built. Its difficult now to imagine how underappreciated they once were, or how close we came to losing each of them. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. In one fell swoop, the city rid itself of 30 years of ramshackle construction and poor planningurban renewal before its time. December 26-30, Daily at 7 & 8 pm. We got 300 letters and a flock of telephone calls in the next two days, from people who had read the column and wanted to take a tour, Speidel said. Last updated by Jolie Daigle on May 8th 2020, 3:23:17 pm. He is one of a group of visionaries who saved Pioneer Square by mounting a citizen campaign to convince the city to designate downtowns oldest neighborhood an historic district, thus sparing from the wrecking ball the largest collection of Victorian-Romanesque buildings in the United States. Seattle Yellow Cab on Instagram: "Happy #ThrowbackThursday, #Seattle How long is the tour - Bill Speidel's Underground Tour - Tripadvisor The tour is described as a 75-minute guided walking tour begins beneath Doc Maynards Public House [that] then spills into historic Pioneer Square, Seattles birthplace, before plunging underground for an exclusive, time-capsule view of the buried city. The Underground Tour takes people on a breathtaking journey of history imbedded in the still intact buildings underneath the busy streets of Seattle, Washington. As a Seattle historian, Speidel was something of a revisionist and the narration of the Underground Tour reflects that. USA, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. Ships coming to load timber had to carry weight, ballast, on the way up, usually in the form of rocks or land fill. After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, Seattle's planners regraded the neighborhood's streets, which had been built on filled-in tide lands and regularly flooded. The guides are funny and witty . It's very informative, tooif you're interested in the general history of the city or salty anecdotes about Seattle's early denizens, you'll appreciate it that much more. The 75-minute guided walking tour begins beneath Doc Maynard's Public House, then spills into historic Pioneer . The Underground Gift Shop offers souvenirs and books, including the Sons of the Profits, a book written by tour founder Bill Speidel, who died in 1988 . See Additional Media. Read more. Soon after, the mayor was presented with 100,000 names on a petition, and in May, 1970, the Seattle City Council adopted an ordinance naming 20 square blocks in Pioneer Square an Historic District. Although Speidel started the world-famous Underground Tour, spearheaded the campaign to preserve Pioneer Square, wrote a best . Well worth it! Along with financial relief, Seattle gained 17,000 new residents in her race with Tacoma for dominance of the region. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Few if any of the Seattle Pioneers, the movers and shakers that he wrote about in a half-dozen historical books, gave as much to this city as the author.. Toilets became fountains! Though Seattle has plenty of museums and books on its history, the Underground Tour offers a hands-on authentic approach. between Cherry and James Street. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The 75-minute guided walking tour begins beneath Doc Maynard's Public House, then spills into historic Pioneer Square . About 25 square blocks of Pioneer Square have hollow spaces under the sidewalks. The Underground Tour is a great way to see Seattle and learn some of the history of our city and state. Start earning rewards and perks on your next adventure, Winter Nights It really is the story of how Pioneer Square was saved, because the Underground Tour was the unanticipated product of this effort. Bill Speidels Underground Tour Review - Trip.com UK Bill Speidel's Enterprises | LinkedIn A very interesting tour that takes you to the underground original downtown area of Seattle in the olden days. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. A big-brother version of our world-famous Underground Tour, its seamier, raunchier and laugh-out-loud lewd-icrous. As you roam the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle, our guides regale you with the stories our pioneers didn't want you to hear. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour, Seattle. Thats when the filling began. Following a short intro, we'll walk through . The tunnels underneath Seattle depict architecture from years past, and even parts of buildings that are still intact. Freeways were needed. 2015 Underground Tour. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour (Seattle, Washington). Nomadic Niko, January 2, 2020. https://nomadicniko.com/2017/10/18/underground-tour/. Firefighters were thwarted when the private water systemowned by three of the citys leading citizensproved to have not enough pressure to make the hoses effective. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour. 95,974 were here. But heres how: with laudnauma concoction of opium dissolved in alcohol. Today the labyrinth of streets, alleys and buildings that still lie underneath can be explored by taking an underground tour. With amazing architecture, cool tunnels, intriguing history, and witty guides, the Underground Tour is truly an experience visitors wont want to miss in Seattle, Washington. At the same time, ironically, Congress enacted the National Historic Preservation Act, the very tool to reverse this trend. And, absolutely unintentionally, the Underground was created. A lot of what Arthur Denny did well was to get rich: History remembered him. Written June 14, 2023. Bill Speidel, founder of the Underground Tour, is remembered as one of the last of a few genuine old-time Seattle characters. The city also decided to rise up from the muck in which its original streets lay. Like in college. The First Underground tour of Seattle, Washington was in May 1965 with approximately 500 people going on tours of the intact tunnels beneath Seattles brick sidewalks. Where Denny was uptight and frugal, Maynard was free-wheeling and generous. All rights reserved. "[5] Though the decision to raise the streets helped correct some of the original mistakes of the foundation of Seattle, it also just served to create more problems, and people with a little too much to drink could easily plummet over 20 feet if they didnt look where they were going and stepped off a sidewalk. Reason #1 for taking Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is the shocking, unfiltered history you get. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. 5 Reasons To Go Underground For Seattle's Most Unusual Tour Furthermore, as Denny sunk under the auspicies of the medicine, Maynard opened one-on-one negotiations for property owned by Dennys brother-in-law, which really wasnt for sale. By the time the fire was through, some 25 blocks of the central business district was gone. Posted @withregram @vanishingseattle #FBF: South E." between Cherry and James Street. The goal of living in these horrid conditions was to be close enough to Puget Sound and Elliott Bay was to ensure that the city was a freeway for maritime commerce.[2] This goal was envisioned by none other than Denny himself, as well as his archrival, Dr. David Swinson Maynard. Find out what works well at Bill Speidel's Underground Tour from the people who know best.
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