Seattle's First Pier Historical Marker - Seattle, WA
N 47° 36.088 W 122° 20.193
10T E 549869 N 5272220
This maritime monument is located along Alaskan Way in downtown Seattle, WA.
Waymark Code: WMG5TX
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 01/16/2013
Views: 7
Visitors walking along Alaskan Way, part of the Seattle waterfront, might notice an unobtrusive maritime monument attached to an anchor and mounted on a concrete railing, overlooking Puget Sound. This particular monument has a metal plaque with an inscription that says the following:
HISTORICAL POINT OF INTEREST
SEATTLE'S FIRST PIER LIES BURIED BENEATH
YOUR FEET. THE FAMOUS YESLER SAWMILL AND
WHARF, CONSTRUCTED IN 1853, MARKED THE
BIRTH OF SEATTLE'S GREAT LUMBER AND SHIPPING
INDUSTRIES. FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS THE
CENTER OF SEATTLE'S BUSINESS DISTRICT.
ERECTED NATIONAL MARITIME WEEK - 1964
PRESENTED BY
YUKON CLUB & PROPELLER CLUB - PORT OF SEATTLE
There is a very good online article on Wikipedia regarding the history of the Central Waterfront and includes mention of this particular area:
Henry Yesler established his steam-powered sawmill at the foot of Mill Road (now Yesler Way) in October 1852. That mill and its wharf were, for several decades, the most important structures on the waterfront. The wharf became a transportation hub.
This area where Yesler's Wharf resided was later destroyed by the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. This area then became re-developed and has evolved greatly over the decades.
***NOTE*** This monument as well as others along this stretch of waterfront along Alaskan Way have had access to them temporarily blocked by fencing due to construction projects. I had to jump a fence to get access to this monument and others on this stretch of walkway. I don't know when construction will end but I wanted you to know this in the event you try to visit these monuments. I encourage visitors to this area to let me know when the fencing comes down and I'll remove this disclaimer. Thanks