Pike Place Market Thursday, September 13, 2007

Seattle's famous Pike Place Market celebrated its 100th anniversary in August.

Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. It was opened in 1907 by the city as a place where consumers could "meet the producer" directly, with no middlemen involved.

Today, more than 170 stores and 50 restaurants fill the 9 acre market, and that doesn't count the dozens of vendors that rent day-stalls.

(left) In a lot of ways, the market is just like any other: seasonal fruits and vegetables, and lots of crafts, knickknacks, and trinkets. (below) The market is particularly well-known for its fish, which makes sense since it overlooks Elliott Bay.