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mary lamery

artist | oil painter
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Journal Des Muses

An ongoing visual and conversational diary about my work and life as an artist.


Pike Place Market - The Soul of the City of Seattle

October 30, 2024

There was a time, a little over 50 years ago, that the Pike Place Market almost fell to the wrecking ball of developers. Out-of-towners had their own ideas about the land underneath the Market and saw a hotel and parking lot take its place.

The timeframe was the late 1960s. The Pike Place Market was showing signs of years of neglect. The Market had several challenges in the decades since WWII leading to its downfall as a mercantile destination for city dwellers. The introduction of the interstate freeway system in the 1950s made it possible to distribute fresh produce far and wide. Selling direct to the customer was not lucrative or competitive in the marketplace with the advent of the “Supermarket.” Also, a significant number of farmers stopped selling at the Market after the end of WWII, namely the Japanese farmers who made up the largest population of farmers and were sadly and unjustly removed from their homes and farms and placed into internment camps during the war. Sadly, after the war ended, their farmland confiscated, the Japanese farmers lost much of what they had and subsequently did not return to the business of farming and consequently did not return to the Market.

The once vibrant Pike Place Market fell into abandon and decay. By 1949 only 53 market stalls remained, down nearly 90 percent from a decade earlier. (Source: Seattle Times.)

The lackluster draw at the market nearly got it raised. Thank goodness it didn't happen.

Fast forward to Now.

The Market not only exists, it persists!  And this year, the Pike Place Market celebrated its 117th anniversary on August 17, 2024. The fact that the Market is here today is due to a group called "The Friends of the Market," a volunteer civic organization formed in 1963 under the wing of Allied Arts of Seattle and "dedicated to saving and renewing the historical Pike Place Market and district through a program of community planning."

In 1968, "Friends of the Market" led a city-wide initiative at the ballot box to save the Market from the developer's dreaded wrecking ball. As President of "Friends of the Market," Victor Steinbrueck, architect and active in historic preservation in Seattle back in the day, is wildly credited with saving the Pike Place Market from demolition. Because of Steinbrueck's leadership and advocacy, the initiative passed by popular vote in the City of Seattle and the Pike Place Market was designated with historic status in 1971.

"The Pike Place Market deserves to live on, as a link with Seattle's past, a meaningful and much-loved part of its present, and a place of unlimited possibilities for its future."
--Victor Steinbrueck, Architect and member, Friends of the Market.


JANUARY “Public Market Center, Main Entrance, Pike Street.”

We can experience a very old part of Seattle by visiting the Pike Place Market first opened in 1907. Most of its collection of interconnected buildings were constructed by 1929. They haven't changed a bit. They still serve the same function: to host farmers to sell their wares.

Here is the Main Arcade entrance to the Market on Pike Street, under the famous signage that greets over 10 million visitors a year, the historic Public Market Center & Clock. This historic neon sign was created circa 1928. It is believed to be one of the first uses of neon in the Market.

"Always a busy scene of shoppers and trucks, the world of the market begins here for most people.“ Victor Steinbrueck, Market Sketchbook (1968.)


FEBRUARY “Flower Vendors.”


MARCH “Pike Street Hill Climb”

The Hill Climb takes one from Western Avenue behind the Pike Place Market to the Seattle Waterfront. There are a lot of small businesses that line the northern side of the Hill Climb as well as below.

The Hill Climb actually has an interesting history stemming from before the Denny Regrade that removed much of the land known as Denny Hill -- essentially large mound of earth that took up 62 city blocks rising over 100 feet in the area now bounded by Pike Street and Denny Way and First and Fifth Avenues -- from this area of Seattle between 1902-1911.

The current Hill Climb zig zag stairs made of cement were built in 1977 replacing the old wooden zig zag stairs that were becoming hazardous.


APRIL “Post Alley”

The turquoise Post Alley sign arches over the passageway known as Post Alley. In this composition, we are looking north to Pine Street.


MAY “Victor Steinbrueck Park”

Victor Steinbrueck Park is named for the visionary who led the effort the save the Pike Place Market.


JUNE “Pike Place”


JULY “Market Front-View Overlook Walk”


AUGUST “Down Under”


SEPTEMBER “Public Market, Pine Street”

In this composition is Public Market, one of the iconic neon signs in the Pike Place Market.

The “Public Market” sign at the foot of Pine Street was installed in the late 1920’s, predating its more famous counterpart further south that was installed in 1937.

Facing west from Pine Street and First Avenue, the Public Market sign looms over the Market day stalls at Pine Street. In this composition, there are produce tents set up outside selling fresh produce and hot apple cider in the fall. 


OCTOBER “Produce Vendors, Sanitary Market”


NOVEMBER “Fish Vendors”


DECEMBER “Magic in the Market.”

The Pike Place Market becomes illuminated for "Magic in the Market" kicking off the holiday season and festivities at the Market.

To the right, stands the illuminated tree, decorated all over in lights. Lights are strung up throughout the Market.

Crowds of people surround the main entrance of the Market waiting in anticipation, for the flick of the switch that turns on all the holidays lights.

The mood is festive and at the same time, joyful and peaceful.

In Seattle, Farmers Market Tags Seattle, Pike Place Market
← The Tale of the Two VictorsSeattle's Parks and Boulevards - An Olmsted Brothers Legacy →
  • December 2024
    • Dec 7, 2024 The Tale of the Two Victors Dec 7, 2024
  • October 2024
    • Oct 30, 2024 Pike Place Market - The Soul of the City of Seattle Oct 30, 2024
  • December 2023
    • Dec 1, 2023 Seattle's Parks and Boulevards - An Olmsted Brothers Legacy Dec 1, 2023
  • December 2022
    • Dec 10, 2022 Montmartre Dec 10, 2022
  • August 2022
    • Aug 20, 2022 Happenstance-Sunday Mass at Sacré Coeur de Montmartre Aug 20, 2022
  • July 2022
    • Jul 31, 2022 Vincent and Monique Jul 31, 2022
  • April 2022
    • Apr 20, 2022 Becoming a Painting Apr 20, 2022
  • January 2022
    • Jan 30, 2022 Painted Drawings Jan 30, 2022
  • October 2021
    • Oct 1, 2021 1962 Seattle World's Fair Oct 1, 2021
  • September 2021
    • Sep 11, 2021 The Architect of the World Trade Center - Minoru Yamasaki Sep 11, 2021
  • July 2021
    • Jul 31, 2021 Cowiche Canyon Jul 31, 2021
  • June 2021
    • Jun 30, 2021 Tour de France Jun 30, 2021
  • May 2021
    • May 31, 2021 Green May 31, 2021
  • April 2021
    • Apr 24, 2021 Cherry Trees along the Quadrangle Apr 24, 2021
  • March 2021
    • Mar 28, 2021 Musique Mar 28, 2021
  • February 2021
    • Feb 28, 2021 A Sense of Place Feb 28, 2021
  • January 2021
    • Jan 30, 2021 The Flâneur Jan 30, 2021
  • October 2020
    • Oct 27, 2020 Kubota Garden, A City Treasure Oct 27, 2020
  • August 2020
    • Aug 3, 2020 Pike Place Market: a Tour through Paintings and Drawings Aug 3, 2020
  • April 2020
    • Apr 26, 2020 Le Confinement Apr 26, 2020
    • Apr 19, 2020 Incognito Apr 19, 2020
    • Apr 12, 2020 Gigi Gets Away Apr 12, 2020
    • Apr 5, 2020 Les Adventures of Édith and Gigi Apr 5, 2020
    • Apr 4, 2020 The Days in Which We Find Ourselves Apr 4, 2020
  • February 2020
    • Feb 5, 2020 Moons and Junes and Ferris Wheels Feb 5, 2020
  • November 2019
    • Nov 15, 2019 Sublime. Landscape Impressions of Capitol Hill. Nov 15, 2019
  • April 2019
    • Apr 21, 2019 Notre-Dame de Paris Apr 21, 2019
  • May 2018
    • May 10, 2018 The Garden May 10, 2018
  • February 2018
    • Feb 28, 2018 Sketchbook Feb 28, 2018
  • November 2017
    • Nov 3, 2017 Upper Snoqualmie Falls Nov 3, 2017
  • October 2017
    • Oct 28, 2017 Loving Vincent Oct 28, 2017
  • January 2017
    • Jan 16, 2017 Evolution of a Painting Jan 16, 2017
  • August 2016
    • Aug 28, 2016 Maryhill Museum of Art - New Acquisition Aug 28, 2016
  • July 2016
    • Jul 25, 2016 North Cascades Jul 25, 2016
  • June 2016
    • Jun 2, 2016 Mount Rainier Jun 2, 2016
  • May 2016
    • May 29, 2016 The Ballard Locks May 29, 2016
    • May 28, 2016 Boating, Lake Union May 28, 2016
    • May 27, 2016 Seattle Yacht Club May 27, 2016
    • May 26, 2016 Opening Day Flags May 26, 2016
    • May 24, 2016 Maritime May 24, 2016
  • April 2016
    • Apr 26, 2016 Tulipmania! Apr 26, 2016
    • Apr 23, 2016 Morning Harvest Apr 23, 2016
    • Apr 22, 2016 Anthologia - A Collection of Flowers Apr 22, 2016
    • Apr 18, 2016 Gathering Tulips Apr 18, 2016
    • Apr 17, 2016 Working in the Tulip Fields Apr 17, 2016
    • Apr 16, 2016 A Field of Red Tulips Apr 16, 2016
    • Apr 14, 2016 Tulipmania! Apr 14, 2016
    • Apr 10, 2016 Tulips Fields, Skagit County, Dutch Roots Apr 10, 2016
  • March 2016
    • Mar 31, 2016 Snow Geese Grazing, Skagit Valley Mar 31, 2016
    • Mar 30, 2016 En Route to Fir Island Mar 30, 2016
    • Mar 29, 2016 Wetlands in Conservation Mar 29, 2016
    • Mar 28, 2016 Wetlands Mar 28, 2016
    • Mar 25, 2016 Washington Americana: Snow Geese, Skagit Valley Winter Migration Mar 25, 2016
    • Mar 23, 2016 Washington Americana Mar 23, 2016
  • February 2016
    • Feb 14, 2016 Valentine Feb 14, 2016
    • Feb 10, 2016 Inspired by Beauty Feb 10, 2016
    • Feb 1, 2016 Un Jour Avec des Fleurs Feb 1, 2016
  • January 2016
    • Jan 25, 2016 The Calla Lilies are in Bloom Again Jan 25, 2016
    • Jan 20, 2016 I Saw Bowie! Jan 20, 2016
    • Jan 11, 2016 Changes Jan 11, 2016
  • April 2015
    • Apr 10, 2015 Landscape of Naches Heights - Scouting Locations Apr 10, 2015
  • March 2015
    • Mar 25, 2015 A new view of an iconic image. Mar 25, 2015
    • Mar 8, 2015 En Plein Air Mar 8, 2015
  • January 2015
    • Jan 15, 2015 100 Days 100 Paintings Jan 15, 2015

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