explore pioneer square
Welcome to the Original Seattle Neighborhood – rich in history, arts, culture, and food!
In the early 20th century, soapbox orators attracted street-side audiences. In 1919, a General Strike shut down the city, giving Seattle a national reputation as a haven for left-wing politics. After the stock market crash of 1929 and the start of the Great Depression, this corner became a place where radicals shouted ideas on current events, and crowds by the hundreds joined to listen.
