Seattle Underground
In 1889 33 blocks of Seattle burned down and when they rebuilt it they….wait for it…….put the streets at the 2nd floor! So you can go underground now and see what was the ground level in ye olden times. Also, if you get lucky Norm Macdonald will be your tour guide.
The Seattle Underground is a network of underground passageways and basements in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States that was ground level at the city’s origin in the mid-1800s.
In 1907 the city condemned the Underground for fear of bubonic plague. The basements were left to deteriorate or were used as storage. In some cases, they became illegal flophouses for the homeless, gambling halls, speakeasies, and opium dens.
It’s great to see Norm Macdonald is still doing great things these days!
Is that THE Norm MacDonald? The comedian we all know and love?
Gary and I, and our kids and a fFrench exchange student did the Seattle Underground tour back in 1997. It was a real eye-opener. You would never know by walking around on the streets, just what is underneath. Our French friend, Arnaud, struggled to catch the tour guide’s patter.
Aunt Binky
Alas, it is not actually THE Norm Macdonald. I think it must be his brother or his evil twin who turned not-so-evil and now guides tour groups.