Located on a narrow strip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, water has been at the heart of Seattle’s journey from when it was first home to Coast Salish tribes to when the first European settlers arrived in 1792. In its early days, lumber and coal were the main industries, with fishing, shipbuilding and shipping also key to the town’s growth. Incorporated in 1869, the population grew to over 80,000 by 1900, a number that tripled in the following decade. Several piers were built at the turn of the 19th century to serve the railroads and the Alaskan Gold Rush.

The old disused pier sheds that lined the city’s waterfront were redeveloped in the 1970s with shops, restaurants and various tourist attractions, such as the Seattle Aquarium, transforming the area into a popular recreational spot. Seattle’s central waterfront is undergoing further transformation now: a new park promenade is being constructed along the water, Pier 58 and Pier 62 are being rebuilt, and an elevated connection from the historic Pike Place Market to the waterfront is being created. The Waterfront Seattle project is due to continue into 2025