Hiram M. Chittenden Locks*The Lake Washington Ship Canal connects Lake Washington to the Puget Sound. The passage is made possible via the locks, built in 1911 and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Odyssey, The Maritime Discovery Center.  Pier 66, 2205 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington 98121.  Phone: 206-374-4000; Fax: 206-374-4002.  E-mail

Pacific Science Center
200 Second Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98109.  Phone: 206-443-2001.  Features five buildings of interactive science exhibits, a tropical Butterfly House, two IMAX theatres (one with IMAX 3D technology), a planetarium and laser light shows.

Pike Place Market*.  Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA). 85 Pike Street, Room 500, Seattle, WA 98101. Phone: 206-682-7453; Fax: 206-625-0646. E-mail

Situated just above the waterfront, the market is popular with natives tourists alike.   It is a vital part of Seattle's economy, receiving more than nine million visits each year.  It features about 600 businesses including farmers and merchants that offer fresh vegetables, seafood, food bars, cafes, restaurants, crafts, art work, and gifts from booths, stalls and shops, and the original Starbucks.  The market was born in 1907, from citizen outrage at the high cost of produce, beginning with a handful of farmers with their wagons on Pike Place.  It is the oldest continually operating farmers’ market in the USA.

The Seattle Aquarium*
Exhibits, news and events, information, adventures and programs, services, hours and fees.

Seattle Center*
The Seattle Center was built as the United States Science Pavilion during the Seattle World's Fair of 1962.  This 74-acre complex is now home to the Seattle Opera, Seattle Repertory, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pacific Science Center and the Key Arena, and it also offers exhibits, IMAX movies, laser shows, community events, classes and camps.  The center also is home to the 60-foot-tall (185m) Space Needle, which officially opened on April 21, 1962 - the first day of the Fair.  The Space Needle features an observation deck, restaurant and cocktail bar within its "Jetsons style" top and it still is prominent on the city's skyline as Seattle's most recognizable landmark.   The "Needle" and the Seattle Center can be reached by a 90-second monorail ride from downtown's Westlake shopping center. 

Seattle University
If gothic architecture is your interest, the jewel-like St. Ignatius Chapel is worth a visit.

The Woodland Park Zoo*
Information, virtual tour, wildlife travel adventures, zoo store, conservation, education, FAQ, hours and fees.

The Waterfront*
A row of piers jutting out into Elliot Bay are the backbone for a mix of maritime industries, shops and restaurants. Ferries, freighters, tugs and even naval vessels go about their business, while the occasional seaplane or para-sailor flies above. Take in all this activity along the promenade linking the piers, or take a harbor tour, island cruise or fishing excursion. On land,  are close by.  The Waterfront Streetcar (using restored trams imported from Australia) trundles along the waterfront from Pier 70 past the well known Bell St. Pier, the Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Omnidome Theatre, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, and on to the Chinatown District.

Art Galleries & Exhibits

Art Access
Online version of the magazine which presents original art, poetry, reviews and literature, and provides monthly listings for the visual arts, dance, music and theater. A selection is available on their web site.

Center of Contemporary Art.  1420 11th Avenue, Seattle, WA.  Phone: 206-728-1980.  E-mail

City of Art
Web showcase of the Street Art Stylists of Seattle as photographed by Larry Neilson. In showing the funky and far-out art from Seattle's street corners he makes the claim that Seattle is one of the nation's Kitsch Kapitals.

Charles and Emma Frye Art Museum.  704 Terry Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.  Phone: 206-622-9250.  E-mail

Owners of a prosperous food processing business at the turn of the century, Charles and Emma were able to travel to Europe and collect art.  Emma died in 1934. They had no children and Charles spent his last years alone. In his will, Charles Frye provided for the creation of a free public art museum to house and display his beloved collections.

Emerald City Fine Art
Features the work of more than 30 artists including Alexandra Nechita and Yuroz.  Situated in downtown Seattle's historic Pioneer Square.

Photographic Center Northwest
Learning environment, working facilities, and exhibition space.

Seattle Art Museum*
Houses a permanent exhibition of Asian, African and Northwest Coast Native American art, as well as touring international exhibitions. Note the post-modern facade designed by Robert Venturi. Web site has information about its collection, exhibitions, member news, programs events, museum store and general information.

City Parks and Gardens

Discovery Park
Walking and jogging trails through forest and upon wild and windswept grassy meadows.   Steep sea cliffs with beach access and lighthouse.  Reputedly Seattle's best birding spot.  Native American cultural activities and art exhibits are at the park's Daybreak Star Arts Center.  The 535 acre park is Seattle's largest, and is  also home to the Fort Lawton Military Reservation.  (City of Seattle, Department of Parks and Recreation web site.)

Green Lake

Northwest Garden Show, February

Volunteer Park

Washington Park Arboretum*

Historic Sites

Klondike Gold Rush NHP
This links to the National Park Service's page on the Visitor's centers in Seattle and Skagway describing the gold rush.

Pioneer Square*
Saved from the wrecking ball by popular outcry, Seattle’s oldest neighborhood is a 17-square-block National Historic District. Its charming, red-brick buildings have been revived and now hold a great arts, café, shopping and nightlife scene. Historical highlights are the Klondike Gold Rush Historical Park and the unique >Underground Tour.

Tillicum Indian Village.*  2992 SW Avalon Way, Seattle, WA 98126. Phone: 206-933-8600; Toll-free: 1-800-426-1205.

Tillicum Village is located on Blake Island Marine State Park, eight miles off the coast of downtown Seattle’s central waterfront in Washington State.  Blake Island is believed to be the birthplace of Chief Seattle and became a state park in 1959.

Museums & Exhibitions

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
This is part of the University of Washington's web site, and the Museum is located on the campus in Seattle.  The Museum  contains nationally ranked collections in anthropology, geology and zoology, totaling over 3 million specimens.

Center for Wooden Boats
Small craft museum with more than 100 historically significant boats.  Visitors encounter a relaxed atmosphere of 1900's-style floating buildings and landscaping.  Amble along the docks and look at on-the-water exhibits and boats on the docks or stop and chat with one of many volunteers. A rental fleet classically built wooden rowboats and sailboats is available to the public year-round for use on Lake Union. There is no admission charge.

Children’s Museum
Located on the first level of Center House at the Seattle Center near the Space Needle, Monorail and Experience Music Project.  Admission: $5.00 per person (adults & children).  Children under age 1 are admitted free.  Hours Monday-Friday are 10 AM - 5 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 10 AM-6 PM.

Experience Music Project.  Seattle Center Campus, 325 5th Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109.  Phone: 206-367-5483; Toll-free: 1-877-367-5483; Fax: 206-770-2727.  Mail: EMP Headquarters, 2901 Third Avenue, #400, Seattle, WA 98121.

The $240-million Experience Music Project, spear-headed by Microsoft cofounder and multibillionaire Paul Allen, is a museum of American popular music housed in the controversial architecture of Frank Gehry near the Seattle Center and Space Needle.  More than a museum, it offers a variety of hands-on music experiences for people of all ages.  A three-day festival June 23-25, 2000 celebrated its grand opening.

Log House Museum
Built circa 1903, The Log House Museum is an authentically renovated log structure located at 3003 61st Avenue SW, one block off Alki Beach in West Seattle.  The building was built by Gladys and William Bernard, and was originally the carriage house to the nearby Bernard family residence, now the Alki Homestead Restaurant.

Medicinal Herb Garden
Located on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, the Garden is a resource for herbalists, medics, and  botanists. (Part of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine web site.)

Museum of Flight*
Features the largest air and space museum on the west coast including exhibits of 54 airplanes; authentic and in mint condition. In the steel and glass Great Gallery, dozens of full-size aircraft are seen flying in formation six stories above. Aircraft exhibits, Museum store and more.

Museum of History and Industry
The Museum of History and Industry is a private, non-profit educational organization dedicated to the collection, preservation and exhibition of Seattle, King County and Pacific Northwest history.  The museum's library and archives contain 800,000 books, photographs, maps and manuscripts and handles more than 2,000 research requests each year.

The University of Washington Fish Collection
A collection of some 3,778 species of preserved fish.  Located on the University campus in Seattle.

The Wing Luke Asian Museum
The Web site of the only pan-Asian American museum in the United States devoted to the collection, preservation and display of Asian Pacific American culture, history and art with projects inspired and created by community members.

Performing Arts

The 5th Avenue Theatre.  1308 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101
Phone: 206-625-1418; Fax: 206-292-9610.   E-mail

ACT Theatre.  Kreielsheimer Place, 700 Union, Seattle, WA 98101.  Ticket Office: 206-292-7676; Fax: 206-292-7670.

As a professional, non-profit theatre company, ACT produces a season of plays from April - November, the holiday classic A Christmas Carol in December, and a wide variety of smaller productions, readings and workshops throughout the year.

The Comedy Underground.  222 South Main Street, Seattle, WA.  Phone: 206-628-0303.

Early Music Guild of Seattle.  2366 Eastlake Avenue E, Suite #335, Seattle, WA 98102-3399.  Phone: 206-325-7066; Fax: 206-860-9151.  E-mail

The Early Music Guild of Seattle was founded in 1977 as a non-profit corporation to foster appreciation for the music of earlier historical periods.  Focusing on historically informed performances of repertoire from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical periods, the Guild presents annual concert series by internationally known artists.

Eddie May's Interactive Comedy Mysteries

Meany Theater.  4001 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105.  Phone: 206-543-4880; Toll-free: 800-859-5342; Fax: 206-685-4141.

Standing on the southwest corner of "Red Square" on the University of Washington campus, Meany Hall for the Performing Arts originally opened for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909.  Meany Hall is now considered one of the region's finest performance facilities.

Pacific Northwest Ballet.  301 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109.  Phone: Main desk, 206-441-9411; Box Office, 206-441-2424.  Fax: Main desk, 206-441-2440; Box Office, 206-441-2420.  E-mail

Founded in 1972 Pacific Northwest Ballet has become one of the five
largest and most highly regarded ballet companies in the United States. The Company of 49 dancers presents 100 performances each year.  It enjoys the highest per capita dance attendance in the country.  Web site has season information, ticket purchasing, photo gallery.

The Paramount.  911 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101.  Phone: 206-467-5510; Fax: 206-682-4837.

The Paramount originally served as a vaudeville and silent film venue. With more than 3,000 seats, it was one of the largest of its kind. Yet it was built to accommodate only simple stage acts, silent films, and organ and orchestral music. Remodeling has transformed the Paramount into a first class venue for the performing arts.

Seattle Arts and Lectures.  105 South Main, # 201, Seattle, WA 98104.  Phone: 206-621-2230.  E-mail

A literary arts organization founded in 1987 to raise the understanding, appreciation, and visibility of the literary arts in the Puget Sound region. Read about their programs.

Seattle Mime Theatre.  915 East Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122.  Phone: 206-324-8788.  E-mail

Seattle Music Web
You can play songs by local bands, from this index by Tim Crowley.

Seattle Opera.  1020 John Street, Seattle, WA 98109.

Order tickets, read the stories of the operas and read about other events.

Seattle Repertory Theatre.  155 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109. Phone: 206-443-2210.

Seattle Symphony.  200 University Street, Seattle, WA 98101.  Mailing Address: P.O. Box 21906, Seattle, WA 98111-3906.  Ticket Office: 206-215-4747; Ticket Office Fax: 206-215-4748.  E-mail

Ticket Web - Washington
A full-service ticket distribution company which sells event tickets over the Internet.  See site for details including venues.

Nightlife

Seattle Techno Events
Events listings and reviews, clubs, music reviews, and record stores. Part of the alternative webzine pulpfiction.