r/SeattleHistory

The market turns a 119 years old today.

cornerstones of Pioneer Building's original SW entrance had just been set, and the modern sidewalk level was being framed out, noticeably higher than the level of the street. A piece of the retaining wall for the newly raised streets is visible, along with stacks of prism glass panels for the new sidewalks. What had been ground floor of pre-fire Yesler-Leary Building, bottom left, also visible.

Second pic shows Front Street raised a bit as the Pioneer Building goes up. Third pic is misdated. Pioneer Building was completed 1892, not 1890. Street and sidewalks at modern level. University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections.

The Seattle Armory was built in 1939. This view is looking to the south. Across the street is Civic Field, which would be there until Memorial Stadium opened in 1947. To the north of Civic Field is Mercer Arena (built as an ice arena in 1927) and the Civic Auditorium (built in 1928) which became the Opera House and eventually was renovated into McCaw Hall. I think it's interesting that you can still see the old street grid through Seattle Center today.