From Armory to Public Park
The ground beneath your feet overlaps the old site of the Washington National Guard Armory, which went up around 1909. A fire damaged the building in 1962, during years when the future of Pike Place Market itself was hotly debated, and the armory was finally torn down in 1968.
Victor Steinbrueck pushed hard against that demolition. He argued that rare older buildings link a city to its past and make new development more interesting, and he believed sensitive designers could have restored the armory. That same year he wrote that this corner of Western Avenue, Pike Place and Virginia Street was one of downtown's finest viewpoints, yet one the city had overlooked.
How the Park Took Shape
The city bought the land in 1968 and cleared what remained of the armory. Ownership passed to the parks department in 1970, the park opened in 1971, and it was landscaped in 1982 under the name Market Park.
- 1968: The city purchases the site and removes the armory remnant.
- 1970: The land is transferred to the parks department.
- 1971: The park opens.
- 1982: Landscaping is completed, and the site is called Market Park.
- March 1984: Two cedar totem poles are installed.
- After 1985: The park is renamed for Victor Steinbrueck following his death.
Meet Victor Steinbrueck
Victor Steinbrueck was a Seattle architect who played a central role in preserving both Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. Naming this overlook for him ties the park to the Market he helped protect, just steps away. His son, Peter Steinbrueck, also became an architect and served on the Seattle City Council from 1997 to 2007.
The Renovation
The park closed in December 2022 for a project expected to take about two years. The main task was fixing the waterproofing layer beneath the park, which had worn out and was letting water leak into the garage below.
The work also brought new furnishings, a replacement pavilion and better lighting, so you can look forward to a refreshed space. The original plan aimed for an April reopening, but the timeline slipped to late 2024. Construction wrapped up in November 2024, yet the gates stayed shut for several more months because of a dispute over the park's totem poles.
The Reopening
The park welcomed visitors back on March 14, 2025. The day before, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that the city, not the Pike Place Market Historical Commission, had the authority to reopen it.
The Totem Pole Debate
Starting in March 1984, two cedar totem poles stood in the park, designed by Marvin Oliver and carved by James Bender. In the 2010s, people began calling for their removal, since the poles carry no local Indigenous meaning.
A revised plan from December 2023 proposed replacing the poles permanently with Indigenous welcome sculptures by members of the Suquamish and Muckleshoot tribes. That same month, the Pike Place Market Historical Commission rejected the idea and required the original poles to be restored. The city said it would appeal, arguing that different Indigenous artwork would suit the site better.
During the renovation, the poles were stored on city property at Fort Lawton, where they sat uncovered until tarps went over them in December 2023. When the park reopened in 2025, the poles had not been reinstalled.
Make It Part of Your Market Day
Victor Steinbrueck Park shines brightest when you pair it with the blocks around it. Pike Place Market and Produce on Pike are both within about a tenth of a mile, so slip over to the park whenever you want to step out of the crowds and take in the bay.
Before you go, check with Seattle Parks and Recreation for current hours, rules and any updates about the park. To stretch your time outdoors into a longer day, browse more parks across Seattle.
Landmarks and Waterfront Spots Nearby
Step out of the park and you are surrounded by designated landmarks and waterfront space, most of them just a short stroll away.
- Produce on Pike: farmers market, under 0.1 mile
- Pike Place Market: farmers market, about 0.1 mile
- Piers 62 and 63: waterfront park, about 0.1 mile
- Terminal Sales Building: landmark, about 0.1 mile
- Terminal Sales Annex: landmark, about 0.1 mile
- Guiry Hotel: landmark, about 0.1 mile
- Schillestad Building: landmark, about 0.1 mile
- Colonnade Hotel/Gatewood Apartments: landmark, about 0.2 mile
These distances are straight-line estimates, so your actual walking route may run a little longer, especially with the grade change between Western Avenue and the waterfront.
