The bronze fountain that came back from the bay
The Waterfront Fountain is one of the most storied pieces on the pier. Made from cast and welded bronze cubes, it was started by artist James FitzGerald, who was still working on it when he died. Terry Copple finished the sculpture in collaboration with FitzGerald's widow, Margaret Tompkins.
When the middle of the old pier fell into Elliott Bay in 2020, the fountain went with it. Divers recovered it during the cleanup, and it was restored and reinstalled on Pier 58 with a new basin. Seeing it in place today is a small reminder of how close the city came to losing it.
Public art along the promenade
A new Coast Salish sculpture titled Family, by Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson, is planned for the promenade facing the park. Check the City of Seattle's official site for the latest on its installation.
Schwabacher Wharf and the Gold Rush
Long before it was a park, this spot was Schwabacher Wharf, sometimes called Schwabacher's Wharf or Schwabacher Dock. Two arrivals here shaped the city. On August 31, 1896, the freighter Miike Maru docked at the wharf and opened Seattle's trade with Japan.
Less than a year later, on July 17, 1897, the steamship Portland pulled in from Alaska carrying a reported ton of Klondike gold. The rush that followed tied Seattle closely to Alaska and brought the city great wealth as its main gateway north.
The area later served military purposes during World War II. By 1960, shipping had largely shifted to the container port in the Industrial District south of downtown, and the Central Waterfront began turning toward recreation.
From Forward Thrust to Collapse
The first park, 1974
In 1968, King County voters approved a Forward Thrust bond measure to buy the land. Federal matching money, Model Cities programs, donations and other sources added to the funding. The original Waterfront Park, designed by the Bumgardner Partnership with consultants, opened on October 25, 1974. Its first phase cost $1.8 million to build.
That first park offered viewing platforms reached by stairs and a wheelchair-accessible ramp, along with coin-operated telescopes, benches, picnic tables and trees growing in planters.
Closure and the 2020 collapse
In 2020, a city inspection found a gap of several inches between Pier 58 and the shore, and the park was closed. Mayor Jenny Durkan approved an emergency order to take the pier apart on August 14, 2020. Replacement had already been planned as part of the program for the former viaduct corridor.
On September 13, 2020, during early demolition, the central section of the pier collapsed into Elliott Bay. Two construction workers fell into the water; both were rescued and treated for minor injuries at Harborview Medical Center. Pier 57, home to the Great Wheel and Miner's Landing, closed on September 18 after inspectors warned that the south part of Pier 58 could fall and endanger it.
Crews finished removing Pier 58 in February 2021. The pedestrian walkway alongside reopened that April, and work on the new park started the following year.
Planning a Visit to Waterfront Park
- Address: 1401 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101.
- Managed by: Seattle Parks and Recreation.
- Good for: a lawn break, the playground, the jellyfish structure and views of Elliott Bay.
- Current details: for hours, accessibility and events, check the official Seattle Parks and Recreation website before you go.
For more green space around the city, browse our guide to all parks in Seattle.
Landmarks Steps from Pier 58
Waterfront Park is surrounded by historic piers and buildings, so it pairs well with a longer walk along Alaskan Way. Within about a fifth of a mile you will find:
- Pier 59 and the Seattle Aquarium, right next door
- Pier 57, with the Great Wheel and Miner's Landing, also next door
- Pier 56, about 0.1 mile away
- 84 Union Building/U.S. Immigration Building, about 0.1 mile away
- Pacific Net & Twine Building, about 0.1 mile away
- Olympic Warehouse and Cold Storage Building, about 0.2 mile away
- Pier 55, about 0.2 mile away
Heading between the Aquarium and the Great Wheel, you pass straight through the park, which makes it a natural place to stop, let kids play and take in the bay.
