How old is Pike Place Market?

Pike Place Market has operated at Pike Place and Pine Street since 1907. A 1971 public vote helped save it.

Is the Showbox the same as Showbox SoDo?

No. The original Showbox is at 1426 1st Avenue and has hosted music since 1939, while Showbox SoDo is a different venue.

Is Victor Steinbrueck Park open?

Yes, the park reopened in March 2025 after a long renovation. It sits just northwest of Pike Place Market with views over Elliott Bay.

Where is the Seattle Aquarium in relation to the market?

The aquarium occupies Piers 59 and 60 and the Ocean Pavilion on the waterfront below the market. Pier 59 is a short walk from Pike Place Market.

Pike-Market Seattle Guide: Market, Waterfront, Landmarks

A public market steps down a hillside above Elliott Bay, with landmark buildings lining the street above it and the aquarium waiting on the piers below. This is Pike-Market, the compact downtown district built around Pike Place Market, operating at Pike Place and Pine Street since 1907. Stroll a few blocks through Pike-Market Seattle and you can reach the Showbox, the bay views from Victor Steinbrueck Park, the Seattle Aquarium and a dense cluster of city landmark buildings along First Avenue.

Take It Slow in Pike-Market Seattle

The district is small, yet much of it is officially protected. City of Seattle records list more than a dozen notable places here, from working piers to century-old commercial buildings, so even a short stroll carries you past a good deal of local history.

Wear comfortable shoes, because the terrain plays its part too. The market sits on a hillside above the water, and you can expect stairs and slopes as you move between First Avenue and the waterfront.

Read the full Pike-Market guide

Pike Place Market, the Heart of It All

Start where most visitors do, at the market itself. It has been selling food and goods since 1907, and its several levels step down the hill one after another. A public vote in 1971 saved it, which helps explain why the surrounding blocks still feel so intact as you wander them.

Hours can change, so look over the Pike Place Market guide with hours, history and layout before you head out.

Victor Steinbrueck Park

Walk just northwest of the market to this small park, where wide views open across Elliott Bay. It reopened in March 2025 after a lengthy renovation and a public disagreement over its totem poles. Find the full story in our Victor Steinbrueck Park overlook guide.

Head Down to the Waterfront

Below the market, the Elliott Bay shoreline holds several of the district's protected sites. Make your way to Pier 59, at 1415 Alaskan Way, a designated city landmark a short walk from both the market and Waterfront Park. Piers 62 and 63 also appear in city records for the area, so keep an eye out as you follow the water.

Seattle Aquarium and the Ocean Pavilion

Spend time at the aquarium, which spans Piers 59 and 60 plus the newer Ocean Pavilion. Inside, exhibits explore Puget Sound habitats and marine mammals, and a tropical shark tank rounds out the visit. Our Seattle Aquarium and Ocean Pavilion guide explains how the piers connect, while the Pier 59 landmark page covers the structure itself.

First Avenue's Historic Buildings

Browse First Avenue for the district's standout architecture. The Terminal Sales Building at 1932 1st Ave became a city landmark in 1989, and the Terminal Sales Annex is also on record nearby. The Terminal Sales Building landmark profile fills in the details.

City records here also include the J.S. Graham Store/Doyle Building, the 84 Union Building/U.S. Immigration Building, the Eitel Building and the Hahn Building. The easiest way to spot them is simply to look up as you walk.

The Showbox

Catch a show at the Showbox, which has hosted live music at 1426 1st Avenue since 1939 and earned city landmark status in 2019. It is a separate venue from Showbox SoDo, so double check the address on your tickets. Our Showbox history and landmark guide explains the difference.

Plan Your Visit

Start high, finish low: begin on First Avenue and let the slope carry you downhill toward the piers.
Confirm times: market, aquarium and concert schedules can change, so check official sources before you go.
Pair sights: the park, market and aquarium sit close enough together to enjoy in a single outing.