Seattle Subterranean is a network of underground tunnels and basements located beneath the streets of Pioneer Square. There are still remnants of stores, hotels, and dwellings surviving. After decades, these rooms have been transformed into a history museum.
Previously, these constructions were on the ground floor, and all of the structures were built of wood. In 1889, a large fire broke out because a carpentry workshop employee had forgotten the glue he was heating over a gasoline fire. The fire moved immediately to the covered ground, and John, the employee, attempted to extinguish it with water, exacerbating the problem.
Everyone was able to escape the building, but the fire had gotten out of hand. When it was ultimately put out about 3 a.m., it had caused immense devastation, destroying everything in its path. The damages were massive, and nearly the whole city center was destroyed, with over 5,000 people losing their jobs.
The underworld has several basements that have been abandoned and left to deteriorate. Until Bill Speidel, a historian and journalist, developed the “Bill Speidel” Underground Tour” because he saw the potential for profit in these underground ruins.
He began giving excursions to guests who wished to explore the area. The area was becoming increasingly popular with tourists, and the structures were refurbished to make the area more appealing.
Following the ceremony, municipal authorities convened to discuss the next steps. They made two critical decisions that would shape Seattle’s future: first, all new structures must be constructed of stone and brick to avoid this type of calamity, and second, the streets will be raised 22 feet above the original grade.
Everyone inside made it out of the building in time, but by the time the fire brigade arrived, the fire was out of control. The thick smoke made it hard for the firefighters to find the source of the fire. Furthermore, the fire chief was out of town on that particular day, and the volunteers who arrived at the site made the error of utilizing too many hoses at once. As a result, the water pressure dropped to zero.
The fire caused the Dietz & Mayer Liquor Store to burst, then it spread to the Crystal Palace Saloon and the Opera House Saloon, and very quickly the entire block from Madison to Marion was on fire due to the large volumes of alcohol.
The fire burned until 3 a.m., consuming everything in its path. And when it was eventually put out, the devastation was immense. More than 25 buildings were damaged, and over 5,000 people lost their jobs and livelihoods. However, no one appears to have perished, as there are no documented data on the subject. The damages were estimated to be more than $8 million, and practically the whole town center was destroyed.
It all starts with Bill Speidel, a Seattle resident, historian, and columnist for the Seattle Times. He thought there may be a profit in preserving Seattle’s underground ruins. In 1965, he founded “Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour” and began giving excursions to guests who wanted to explore the abandoned ruins beneath Pioneer Square, with the permission of the building owners, who he paid rent to for the opportunity.
Over time, the underground structures were totally rebuilt and kept in their original shape, and the location became increasingly popular and inviting to tourists. The “Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour” is still very popular with visitors today.