The neighbourhood of Pioneer Square in Downtown Seattle is one of the city’s most vibrant areas with its diverse calendar of cultural events supplementing its bustling restaurants, shops and historic sites. The neighbourhood has long been a hotbed of artistic output and is now recognised as Seattle’s centre of art with its boutique galleries and lively performing arts scene. In addition to this, it enjoys a dynamic nightlife scene and offers visitors the full range of drinking spots from authentic pubs to high-end bars.
Pioneer Square’s wealth of beautiful architecture makes it the perfect spot for a day of sightseeing, while its numerous art galleries can take days to go through and fully appreciate. The James Harris Gallery and C. Gibson Gallery are two of Seattle’s finest galleries and are well worth a visit for culture lovers. The CenturyLink Field stadium is also close by to Pioneer Square, a 67,000 seater stadium that is the home of both the Seattle Seahawks NFL team and the Seattle Sounder MLS team, where visitors can go on stadium tours.
Pioneer Square benefits from extensive transportation links which make getting in and out a breeze. Seattle’s Metro and Sound Transit Light Rail system both pass through the neighbourhood, while there are also ferries and streetcars running into Pioneer Square. The neighbourhood has also been ranked as one of the most walkable places in Seattle due to its excellent central location in Downtown Seattle. Those flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will find it easy to get to Pioneer Square from the airport by public transport, private vehicle or taxi.
Pioneer Square’s origins go all the way back to 1852 when it was settled by Henry Yesler, considered as one of the founding fathers of Seattle. The neighbourhood has experienced a rich history before eventually becoming the leading artistic and nightlife scene of Seattle. Two of the most prominent structures in Pioneer Square are Smith Tower, the oldest skyscraper in the city and the Pioneer Square Totem Pole dating back to 1899.