Pier 54, Seattle
Encyclopedia
Pier 54 is a tourist pier Seattle, Washington
. Previously an active shipping pier and warehouse, Pier 54 was originally known as Pier 3 until it was renumbered during World War Two. This pier was also known as Galbraith dock and the Galbraith Bacon dock. Because of the large number of smaller local steamships
, generally built of wood, that used the pier up until the 1930s, the pier was also known as the “Mosquito Fleet dock”.
is located immediately to the south of Pier 54. Pier 55 is the next pier to the north.
In 1917, like Pier 1
and Pier 2, Seattle
, Pier 3 was owned by the Northern Pacific Railway
.
Pier 3 was the terminal for Island Transportation Co., Merchants Transportation Co., Puget Sound Naval Station Route, Kitsap County Transportation Co., Pollard Steamship. Co., and other Puget Sound local shipping lines. The Kitsap County Transportation Company
, run by James Galbraith's son Walter Galbraith, competed against the Puget Sound Navigation Company
running from the Colman Dock
. As such it was home pier for wooden steamships such as the Kitsap, the Utopia, the Reliance and the Hyak
. Other Puget Sound steamers known to have called at Pier 3 included Magnolia
, Mohawk, Florence K
, Dode
, and Monticello 2
. Pier 3 was within walking distance of Pike Place Market
where much of the local groceries brought in by the steamers were sold. Typically this would have been done by the farmers themselves or their wives, who would ride the steamers into Pier 3 in the morning and depart in the evening. Live hens, slaughtered poultry, eggs, milk in galvanized cans, sacks of potatoes, rhubarb in bundles and fruit in crates. Dockside travel facilities offered few comforts then, but Pier 3 was one of the first to offer a small waiting room.
From 1929 to the mid-1930s Pier 3 was general headquarters for Gorst Air Transport, who operated a seaplane
service from there, using Keystone-Loening planes. They also operated out of Bremerton across the Sound. Through this period, the Northern Pacific still owned the pier, but by 1944 the Washington Fish and Oyster Company (now Ocean Beauty Seafoods) had purchased the pier and was its main tenant. Engineering firm Reese and Callender Associates helped them reinforce the pier and to adapt it to its new use.
In 1938 Ivar Haglund
rented the northeast corner of the pier shed for a one-room aquarium
, which included a small fish and chips stand, later known as Ivar's Acres of Clams
. The aquarium closed around 1945, at which time the restaurant moved to the southeastern corner and was redesigned in Streamline Moderne
style.
During World War Two, Pier 3 was renumbered as Pier 54. In June 1966 Haglund bought Pier 54 for $500,000. Washington Fish and Oyster Company then became Haglund's tenant. The restaurant was repeatedly redesigned and expanded over the years, achieving more or less its present configuration before Haglund's death in 1985.
. Founded in 1899, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is one of the Seattle waterfront's oldest existing businesses
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. Previously an active shipping pier and warehouse, Pier 54 was originally known as Pier 3 until it was renumbered during World War Two. This pier was also known as Galbraith dock and the Galbraith Bacon dock. Because of the large number of smaller local steamships
Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
The Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet was a large number of private transportation companies running smaller passenger and freight boats on Puget Sound and nearby waterways and rivers. This large group of steamers and sternwheelers plied the waters of Puget Sound, stopping at every waterfront dock...
, generally built of wood, that used the pier up until the 1930s, the pier was also known as the “Mosquito Fleet dock”.
Location
Pier 54 is located at the foot of Spring Street. The current dock for the fireboats of the Seattle Fire DepartmentSeattle Fire Department
The Seattle Fire Department is the medical, rescue, and fire protection force of Seattle, Washington and it is the largest metropolitan fire department in the Pacific Northwest. It is also a part of Medic One.-History of the department:...
is located immediately to the south of Pier 54. Pier 55 is the next pier to the north.
Construction
Pier 3 measured 300 by150 feet, and had a cargo warehouse measuring 284 by 130 feet with a storage capacity of 10,000 tons. There were two spur railway tracks on the pier. Depth of water at the pier was 25 to 40 feet.History
Starting in 1900, Pier 3 was leased by Galbraith, Bacon & Co. The principals of this firm were James Galbraith and Cecil Bacon. They were wholesale dealers in grain, hay, plaster, concrete, and building materials. In 1910, the pier narrowly escaped destruction in the Belltown fire, although the nearby Galbraith, Bacon warehouse was destroyed.In 1917, like Pier 1
Pier 1, Seattle
-Location:Pier 1 was located at the foot of Washington Street. Pier 1 was immediately to the north of Pier A and immediately to the south of Pier 2.-History:...
and Pier 2, Seattle
Pier 2, Seattle
-Location:Pier 2 was located at the foot of Yesler Way. Pier 2 was immediately to the north of Pier 1 and immediately to the south of Colman Dock.-History:...
, Pier 3 was owned by the Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
.
Pier 3 was the terminal for Island Transportation Co., Merchants Transportation Co., Puget Sound Naval Station Route, Kitsap County Transportation Co., Pollard Steamship. Co., and other Puget Sound local shipping lines. The Kitsap County Transportation Company
Kitsap County Transportation Company
The Kitsap County Transportation Company was an important steamboat and ferry company that operated on Puget Sound. The company was originally founded in 1898 as the Hansen Transportation Company.-Hansen Transportation:...
, run by James Galbraith's son Walter Galbraith, competed against the Puget Sound Navigation Company
Puget Sound Navigation Company
The Puget Sound Navigation Company was founded by Joshua Green in 1913. It operated a fleet of steamboats and ferries on Puget Sound in Washington and the Georgia Strait in British Columbia...
running from the Colman Dock
Colman Dock
Colman Dock, also called Pier 52 is an important ferry terminal in Seattle, Washington. The original pier is no longer in existence, but the terminal used by the Washington State Ferry system, and is still called “Colman Dock”-Location:...
. As such it was home pier for wooden steamships such as the Kitsap, the Utopia, the Reliance and the Hyak
Hyak (steamboat 1909)
Hyak was a wooden-hulled steamship that operated on Puget Sound from 1909 to 1941. This vessel should not be confused with the sternwheeler Hyak which ran on the extreme upper reach of the Columbia River at about the same time...
. Other Puget Sound steamers known to have called at Pier 3 included Magnolia
Magnolia (steamboat)
Magnolia was a wooden-hulled steamship that operated on Puget Sound from 1907 to 1937.-Career:Magnolia was built at Tacoma in 1907 for the Tacoma and Burton Navigation Company, which intended her to replace Burton on the company's routes around Tacoma and Vashon Island...
, Mohawk, Florence K
Florence K
Florence K was a steamboat that was operated on Puget Sound from 1903. This vessel was later renamed Gloria and was rebuilt as a steam ferry and renamed Beeline.- Career:...
, Dode
Dode (steamboat)
Dode was a steamboat that ran on Hood Canal and Puget Sound from 1898 to 1900.- Construction:Dode was originally the schooner William J. Bryant. Prior to construction as the Dode, the Bryant had been one of a flotilla of Gold Rush ships sent to Alaska...
, and Monticello 2
Monticello 2 (steamboat)
The steamboat Monticello operated in the early 1900s as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. The vessel went through several reconstructions and remained in service until 1962, when she was lost in Alaska waters. Her later names were Penaco and Sea Venture...
. Pier 3 was within walking distance of Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. It is a place of business for many small farmers,...
where much of the local groceries brought in by the steamers were sold. Typically this would have been done by the farmers themselves or their wives, who would ride the steamers into Pier 3 in the morning and depart in the evening. Live hens, slaughtered poultry, eggs, milk in galvanized cans, sacks of potatoes, rhubarb in bundles and fruit in crates. Dockside travel facilities offered few comforts then, but Pier 3 was one of the first to offer a small waiting room.
From 1929 to the mid-1930s Pier 3 was general headquarters for Gorst Air Transport, who operated a seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
service from there, using Keystone-Loening planes. They also operated out of Bremerton across the Sound. Through this period, the Northern Pacific still owned the pier, but by 1944 the Washington Fish and Oyster Company (now Ocean Beauty Seafoods) had purchased the pier and was its main tenant. Engineering firm Reese and Callender Associates helped them reinforce the pier and to adapt it to its new use.
In 1938 Ivar Haglund
Ivar Haglund
Ivar Haglund was a Seattle folk singer and the "flounder" of Ivar's.-Background:Ivar Haglund was born in Seattle, Washington. Ivar Haglund was born to pioneers Johan Ivar Haglund, a Swedish immigrant and Daisy Hanson Haglund, daughter of Norwegian immigrants...
rented the northeast corner of the pier shed for a one-room aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, which included a small fish and chips stand, later known as Ivar's Acres of Clams
Ivar's
Ivar's is a seafood restaurant chain based in Seattle, Washington, United States, with operations in the Puget Sound region; in Spokane, Washington; and in Santa Clara, California....
. The aquarium closed around 1945, at which time the restaurant moved to the southeastern corner and was redesigned in Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s...
style.
During World War Two, Pier 3 was renumbered as Pier 54. In June 1966 Haglund bought Pier 54 for $500,000. Washington Fish and Oyster Company then became Haglund's tenant. The restaurant was repeatedly redesigned and expanded over the years, achieving more or less its present configuration before Haglund's death in 1985.
Current status
Since 1988, Pier 54 has been home not only to Ivar's Acres of Clams, but also to Ye Olde Curiosity ShopYe Olde Curiosity Shop
Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is a store on the Central Waterfront of Seattle, Washington, United States, founded in 1899. It has moved several times, mainly within the waterfront area, and is now located on Pier 54. Best known today as a souvenir shop, it also has aspects of a dime museum, and was for...
. Founded in 1899, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is one of the Seattle waterfront's oldest existing businesses