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Seattle,  WA  (Map and directions)

The Seattle area had previously been inhabited by Native Americans for at least 4,000 years before the first permanent European settlers. Arthur A. Denny and his group of travelers, subsequently known as the Denny Party, arrived on the schooner Exact at Alki Point on November 13, 1851. The settlement was moved to its current site and named "Seattle" in 1852, after Chief Si'ahl of the local Duwamish and Suquamish tribes.
Logging was Seattle's first major industry, but by the late 19th century the city had become a commercial and shipbuilding center as a gateway to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. By 1910, Seattle was one of the 25 largest cities in the country. However, the Great Depression severely damaged the city's economy. Growth returned during and after World War II, due partially to the local Boeing company, which established Seattle as a center for aircraft manufacturing. The city developed as a technology center in the 1980s, with companies like Amazon.com, Microsoft and T-Mobile US based in the area. The stream of new software, biotechnology, and Internet companies led to an economic revival, which increased the city's population by almost 50,000 between 1990 and 2000. Since then, Seattle has become a hub for green industry and a model for sustainable development.

Smith Tower Observation Deck and Chinese Room smithtower.com Smith Tower officially turns 100 years old on July 4th! Enjoy opening-day admission rates to see the Smith Tower’s Chinese Room and Observation Deck, July 4-6 for just $0.25! The Chinese Room & Observation Deck at Smith Tower, once the tallest building on the West Coast, have offered Seattle’s best views to the public for 100 years. Elevator operators will whisk you in an old-fashioned copper and brass elevator car to the 35th floor where you’ll step into the past as you explore the historic Chinese Room. Engross yourself in the newspaper headlines of 1910 when Smith Tower was just a lofty idea, or soak up the good luck of the room by taking a seat in the Wishing Chair. Guests are welcome to enjoy the sights of Seattle from the Observation Deck that provides 360° views of the city. Open daily. See website for hours and ticket prices.
Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! So read the headlines of a Seattle newspaper on July 17, 1897, igniting dreams of easy riches in the minds of thousands as word of a rich gold strike in remote northwestern Canada spreads by telegraph across the globe. The Seattle unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park preserves the story of the subsequent stampede to the Yukon gold fields and Seattle’s crucial role in this event.