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Seattle History Tour with Skyline Views
5.0
9 Ratings
Seattle
Explore Seattle's history and skyline! Walk through Pioneer Square, visit top attractions, and enjoy 360-degree views from Smith Tower.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Smith Tower - Your tour includes admission to this neoclassical building that was once Seattle’s tallest skyscraper and is now home to a mix of businesses and residential floors. You’ll join your guide on an elevator ride to the tower’s observation deck, where you’ll be treated with incredible views of the city skyline and Puget Sound.
- Pioneer Square - Your history tour takes place in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, filled with beautiful architecture and the stories of the city prior to and during the settlement of those looking to seek their fortunes in the Alaska gold mines.
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - We’ll pass by this small national park site, once a hotel during the industrious days of early Seattle and now a visitor center with exhibits displaying artifacts and stories of the Klondike Gold Rush.
- The Central Saloon - Your Seattle walking tour may pass by this historic building, which in more recent times has been known for its live music. You may be surprised to hear about the musicians who once graced its small stage, making Seattle music history!
- Occidental Park - Your history tour of Seattle will route through this picturesque park in the heart of the neighborhood and which displays a few pieces of art hinting at the pre-settlement days when Native Americans had occupied the former tide flats for thousands of years.
- Waterfall Garden Park - We’ll likely pass by this gated park inspired by Japanese garden style and which sits on the former site of a very well-known multinational shipping & receiving company…
- Memorial To Fallen Firefighters - You may spot this memorial in Occidental Park, a tribute to the firefighters who tragically died in a fire in the 1990s.
- Seattle Waterfront - The waterfront is home to many souvenir shops, restaurants featuring fish and chips and local oysters, a ferris wheel, and docks serving as departure points for sightseeing cruises as well as the Washington ferry system. On your Seattle walking tour, you’ll enjoy a short stroll on the southern portion of its walkway and enjoy views of the beautiful Puget Sound.
- CenturyLink Field - You might spot in the distance this sports stadium, now renamed Lumen Field, and which is currently home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders, and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Seattle Reign!
- CenturyLink Field - Originally named CenturyLink Field, this stadium brings in diehard football and soccer fans from all over. The stadium is currently home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders, and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Seattle Reign.
- Stonington Gallery - Our Pioneer Square walking tour may pass by this gallery featuring artworks from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The gallery displays a variety of works, including pieces that represent indigenous cultures of the Northwest coast.
- Glasshouse Studio - We may pass by or stop in at this Pioneer Square shop featuring an amazing display of glassworks, many made onsite! Head to the back to see expert glassblowers in action.
- Washington State Ferries - Our tour will take us to the Seattle waterfront and new ferry terminal, where we can see Seattle commuters boarding the West Seattle water taxi, Bremerton ferry, and Bainbridge ferry. Ask your tour guide for tips on when and where to take the ferry for your next adventure!
- Arundel Books - We may pass by this beloved Pioneer Square bookstore, founded in 1984 and which sells rare and out-of-print as well as contemporary books.
- Dead Line - Our tour may pass by this restaurant and bar, a perfect place to enjoy dinner or a drink after your tour. Hear from your tour guide about the fascinating history of the row of buildings that house Dead Line and a number of other restaurants and businesses.
- citizenM Seattle Pioneer Square hotel - We’ll pass by one of the newer hotels to open in Pioneer Square and conveniently located along the waterfront. Enjoy a drink at the hotel’s funky bar room after your Seattle tour!
What's Included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Discover the history of Seattle before and after the Alaska gold rush boom
- Experience the beauty of the waterfront and its bustling ferry terminal
- See the sites where vice once flourished in the Pacific Northwest’s pioneer days
- Admission to Smith Tower observation deck
- Explore the fascinating stories and architecture of historic buildings
- Enjoy admission to a historic observation tower with incredible skyline views
What's Not Included
- Food and drink, souvenirs, tips/gratuities for your guide
Additional Information
Come join us on a historic tour through Pioneer Square and pair it with one of the best things to do in Seattle: see the city from 35 floors up!
Your Seattle tour starts with a walk through the historic neighborhood, where you’ll easily be able to imagine the city’s early pioneer days with the help of your local tour guide. Top Seattle attractions we’ll pass by include Klondike National Historical Park, Waterfall Garden Park, and the Seattle waterfront.
As you take in the neighborhood’s charm and architecture, your Seattle guide will narrate the fascinating history of the area, from indigenous settlement to Pacific Northwest pioneer town. Learn the surprising background of the city’s founding, immigrant influence, and the vice that gave this neighborhood a certain reputation.
We’ll then take our tour above the streets to enjoy incredible 360-degree views of Seattle, the Sound, and the distant mountains from Smith Tower, a stunning building with a fascinating history of its own!
Location
506 2nd Ave
2nd Avenue
Outside Smith Tower
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(9 Ratings)
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655kathyh655
May 31, 2024
Great tour for locals and visitors! - I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Our guide, Sam, was very welcoming and knowledgeable, sharing many fascinating tidbits of Seattle history throughout the tour. He made the experience fun and interesting. It was great to visit different places tucked around Pioneer Square and the waterfront that I never knew were there.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mcv7529ba
May 29, 2024
Awesome History Tour - As promised we definitely learned a lot interesting Seattle history facts from our tour guide, Sam. It was very cool to end the tour at the top of Smith Tower, looking out over the city and buildings we had just learned so much about! Would recommend this to tourists and locals alike.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gleno648
May 27, 2024
A Must Do Tour! - Sam was a delightful guide. He told fascinating stories throughout & was considerate of everyone. I want to repeat this tour with other friends & family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Reidb851
May 26, 2024
Great tour, great guide - Absolutely fabulous tour! I am a local but went on this tour from curiosity about our city and learned so much. Sam was a really good guide and had clearly done his homework. He is passionate about the city and it shows. I would take out-of-town friends on this tour in a heartbeat!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Expedition618699
May 26, 2024
Highly Recommend! - Our tour guide, Sam, was awesome! He is a Seattle native and led us on an informative and entertaining walking history tour. I have lived in Seattle almost 40 years and I learned many new facts and saw wonderful places I didn't know existed! Ending the tour at the top of the Smith Tower was definitely a highlight. Thank you Sam for a great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sbo1883fe
Apr 23, 2024
Some history and a finale view at the end! - We enjoyed our tour through the international portion of Seattle. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly, and stopped to answer folks questions about specifics on the tour.
The walking tour was not strenuous, we stayed mostly on the flat parts of Seattle so no worries there.
The ending of the tour was a nice touch, an excellent view from Smith tower and a drink to chat with the other tour patrons!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M7213imlauraw
Apr 18, 2024
Beautiful Views! A great history tour! - Beautiful views and a great walk around the city! We learned about the buildings while learning about the city history too. The highlight was definitely the skyline at the top of Smith Tower. Fun to wrap up the walk seeing the whole perspective of that area of the city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M2904ylnickg
Apr 17, 2024
Cool buildings in Seattle - It was great. I learned a lot about pioneer square and it’s lovely buildings. I would definitely do it again. The views atop smith tower are well worth the price of admission.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y5146oojodib
Apr 17, 2024
Highlighting the gems of Pioneer square! - Loved this tour as someone who lives in the area, it was great to be guided through the history of the buildings around and the views and cocktail at Smith tower were incredible. Not something I would do on my own, and super happy I took this tour. Learned a lot, both history and fun Pioneer square spots.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
