Visit Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA

America's Most Famous Farmer's Market

The Pike Place Market attracts almost 10 million visitors a year, and has the reputation as America's premier farmer's market.

The market is a strong part of Seattle's history and continues to provide fresh produce, crafts and entertainment to locals and tourists daily.

History of Pike Place Market

In the early 1900s the price of onions and fresh produce increased enormously. Fed up with prices, a Seattle City Councilman called Thomas Revelle came up with the idea of a public market where farmers could sell directly to consumers without the need for a middleman. On August 17, 1907, Pike Place Market was born with eight farmers and more than 10,000 eager citizens wanting to purchase fresh, reasonably priced produce.

More than 100 years later, Pike Place Market has more than 200 businesses, 190 craftspeople, 120 farmers and 240 street performers and musicians. As well as providing produce, it is a strong tourist attraction most famous for the fish market where fish mongers throw three-foot salmon and other fish over the counter to the other employees, rather than passing them by hand, to finalise customer orders. This tradition started when fish mongers got tired of having to walk out to the market's fish table to retrieve fish everytime someone ordered. The 'flying fish' has since become a huge hit with tourists.

Visiting the Seattle Market

The Pike Place Market is open 7 days a week, every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Times can depend on the separate market stall owners, with most open from around 8 am. The market is open until 6 pm Monday to Saturday and until 5 pm on Sundays. Restaurants inside the marketplace open later and provide a great view overlooking the Puget Sound, the perfect seat to watch the sun go down and the ferries come and go.

The Pike Place Market garage is located at 1531 Western Avenue, Seattle. The main entry can be accessed from 1st and Pike Street. Paid parking spots are available, but due to high demand and crowds, it's best to use local transit to reach the market. After you have visited the market, perhaps visit the first Starbucks, which is also on Western Avenue across from the market, opened in 1971 and retaining its original look.