Founded in 1907, the market has developed a nationwide reputation, as one of the largest and oldest public markets in the United States that still operates today. Explore the highlights and traditions of Pike Place with us as we dive into the dynamic history of this Seattle icon.
One of the most famous traditions of Pike Place Market, the fish toss draws crowds of visitors who gather to watch fishmongers hurl salmon, halibut and other fresh catches through the air to each other. Originally started as a playful way to save time wrapping orders, the daily performance has become an iconic symbol of the market’s spirited energy.
Hillary Sanger, a fishmonger at Pike Place Fish Market and manager of the shipping department, began working as a volunteer at the market and has now been tossing fish for six years. Beyond the spectacle, the spirit of connection keeps Sager and her coworkers coming back every day.
“People come here because it’s their bucket list thing to experience, and it’s amazing to give somebody that little piece of magic,” she said. “We sell fish here and we only get sustainably sourced and wild caught fish, so it’s the highest quality. But really we’re here for the people every day.”
A 10-minute walk from Pike Place Market, the Seattle Great Wheel towers over the seaside. Located at Pier 57 on Elliot Bay, the Wheel offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Bainbridge Island in the distance. For $23 a ticket, a passenger can take a 12-minute ride, revolving three times and reaching a height of 175 feet at its peak. The Wheel is beloved by locals and tourists alike and is well worth a ride if the price does not pose a problem.
“The Ferris Wheel was always one of my favorite places to visit on the weekends when I was younger,” Seattle resident Amanda Lee said. “I used to think it was so scary and high up, but now I find it so peaceful and inspiring to be able to see my city from above.”
Tucked into the lively corridors beneath Pike Place Market, Market Magic Shop has operated for over 50 years. Founded by magicians Darryl Beckmann and Sheila Lyon, the shop features an eclectic mix of novelty items, including chattering teeth, rubber chickens, wiggly snakes, “mega poop” and a range of joke-themed T-shirts.
The store carries Market Magic–branded merchandise alongside full magic kits and instructional books for aspiring illusionists. Staff members perform live demonstrations throughout the day, showcasing sleight-of-hand tricks and classic illusions to passersby.
“I like the experiences I get to give people because my job is technically sales, but for me it goes way beyond that,” the store manager said. “In my mind, my job is really just making magic better. If you’re going to do magic, then I want you to be able to do it properly—I want you to learn properly and have the right props. I love the laughs and the smiles and getting to share magic with people in general.”
A vintage palm reading station stands near the entrance: visitors can insert two quarters to receive a printed fortune. The shop sees a constant stream of teenagers, tourists and curious shoppers, drawn in by the shelves of quirky props, the sounds of laughter and the occasional puff of smoke from a magician’s sleeve.
A glittering gold sign welcomes customers into a small shop crammed with figurines, booklets and game sets. Golden Age Collectables is the oldest comic store in the world, having opened in 1961 and surviving through famines, recessions and, most recently, the pandemic.
Unique knickknacks line the store, squeezed together in tight aisles. Containing novelties from original scripts of popular TV show pilot episodes to colorfully-themed stickers, customers find the store a safe haven for everything media and entertainment. Steve Ramage, who has worked at the store for 44 years, loves being able to work at a place that brings people such joy.
“It is a job that allows me to hang out with fellow nerds and have fun and pleasant interactions with people all day long,” Ramage said. “Customers are my favorite part about working here, people who look for something that just makes them happy. All these things inspire us, give us a chance to see the best parts of ourselves through those with the capes and the superpowers.”
All of the employees of Golden Age Collectables work everyday to keep up with what trinkets make people happy and add them to their store. Through ever-changing trends, the comic store remains a constant, always filled with laughter.
Globs of multicolored gum dangle from pipes, slip down walls and litter the floor. Although The Gum Wall may appear gross at first glance, it is a time-honored tradition, where everyone can leave a mark in their own way. Begun in the 1990s by local patrons and performers at Unexpected Productions who stuck their used gum on the walls, the practice has since grown to represent Seattle’s unique charm and character.
A colorful and brightly stylized facade stands out among other shops and restaurants. Painted letters on the wall read: “World Famous Giant Shoe Museum.”
The Giant Shoe Museum, located in Pike Place Market, showcases the shoe of the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow. For a quarter, visitors can get a glimpse of Danny Eskenazi’s collection of exotic shoes, including the tip of one of Waldow’s shoes and other people’s big shoes. The museum is owned by Old Seattle Paperworks, which sells vintage prints and magazines.
A landmark like the Giant Shoe Museum attests to the timeless charm of Pike Place Market.
“I like the sense of community and the fact that it’s resistant to change and the prevailing fads,” Old Seattle Paperworks employee Eric Lange said. “It stays hip because it stays the same.”