Pike Place Market, founded in Seattle in 1907, became a landmark for local producers and independent traders.
The market opened on August 17, 1907, after Seattle farmers and shoppers objected to rising prices and middlemen. Its original purpose was to connect growers directly with customers, a model that remains central to farmers’ markets worldwide.
Pike Place Market occupies several blocks overlooking Elliott Bay and includes produce stalls, seafood sellers, craft vendors, restaurants, and small specialty businesses. The famous neon clock sign was installed in 1937, while the market’s recognizable bronze pig, Rachel, was added in 1986 as a public-fundraising symbol.
Pike Place Market is often confused with Seattle’s broader downtown shopping district, but it is a specific historic public market. It is also not the oldest farmers’ market in the United States; several earlier markets claim continuous operation.