Pier 57 (Seattle) facts for kids
Pier 57 is a fun tourist spot in Seattle, Washington. It's located right by the water, close to University Street. This pier is privately owned and has lots of cool things to do. You can find gift shops, exciting attractions, and tasty restaurants here. It's a popular place for both visitors and people who live in Seattle.
Contents
History of Pier 57
How the Pier Started
Pier 57 was first built in 1902. It was made for a company called John B. Agen. The Miller and Geske Construction Company did the building work. Over the next ten years, the pier was changed and improved many times.
The Milwaukee Pier
In 1909, a big railroad company took over the pier. This was the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. People often called this company the "Milwaukee Road." So, the pier became known as the "Milwaukee Pier." It was a busy place where ships would load and unload goods. Many different shipping lines used it, like the McCormick Steamship Line. By the mid-1930s, it was also called the "McCormick Terminal." In the 1950s, parts of the pier were even used to process fish.
Changes and City Ownership
By the 1960s, the Port of Seattle owned the pier. They even made holes in the deck for people to go fishing! However, the wooden supports under the pier were getting old. The pier was starting to sink unevenly.
The city of Seattle bought Pier 57 in 1971. This happened after cargo ships moved to a new port further south. The city spent the next three years fixing up the pier. In 1989, the city traded Pier 57 for two other piers, Pier 62 and Pier 63. That's when Pier 57 became privately owned.
What's on Pier 57 Today?
Today, Pier 57 is a lively place full of entertainment. It has many restaurants where you can eat delicious food. There are also shops to buy souvenirs and an amusement arcade for games. You can even ride an old-fashioned carousel there!
The Seattle Great Wheel
A local businessman named Hal Griffith had a dream for almost 30 years. He wanted to build a giant Ferris wheel on the waterfront. His family owns Pier 57, which is where the Seattle Great Wheel is now located. Besides the wheel, the pier is home to "Miner's Landing." This area has gift shops, fun attractions, and many seafood restaurants.
Hal Griffith wanted to make sure his family's businesses on the pier would always do well. He planned to keep adding new and exciting things to the waterfront. He wanted to offer great entertainment for both tourists and local people. Sometimes, he faced challenges with building permits or rules. But he was determined to build the Ferris wheel on Pier 57.
The project took about three years to finish. They even had to strengthen the supports under the pier. In June 2012, the amazing Seattle Great Wheel finally opened! This huge Ferris wheel is 175 feet tall. It has 42 special cabins that are climate-controlled. Each cabin can hold up to six passengers.
Why the Wheel Was Important
Around the time the wheel was being built, big changes were happening in Seattle. A major highway called the Alaskan Way Viaduct had been damaged in an earthquake in 2001. State and city leaders decided to replace it with a tunnel under the city.
This meant that parts of the viaduct would be torn down. Hal Griffith was worried that waterfront businesses would struggle during this construction. He thought that a big attraction like the Seattle Great Wheel would help. It was designed to bring lots of visitors to the waterfront, even during the construction.
