When in Pioneer Square, you’re likely to see clusters of people walking along sidewalks and crossing streets, gazing up and looking down, periodically emerging from alleyways and descending flights of steps. For the uninitiated, their behavior may seem odd, but those familiar with the historic district know these groups are experiencing Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. Led below street level by knowledgeable and gregarious guides, these urban spelunkers explore the abandoned original ground floors of brick and stone structures built just after Seattle’s 1889 fire.
For over 45 years, the Underground Tour’s humorous spin on local history has drawn thousands to this must-see attraction, primarily by word-of-mouth. The quirky tourist destination ranks with the Space Needle and Pike Place Market as a not-to-be-missed spot for residents to take out-of-town guests.
In recognition of its success in consistently attracting visitors from outside the area; presenting entertaining authentic history; serving as a catalyst for preservation; and collaborating with the Pioneer Square community, 4Culture has presented the Underground Tour with the 2010 Golden Rain Globe, the one and only annual award given in King County for heritage tourism.
At the 27th annual AKCHO awards program, Executive Director Jim Kelly presented the 4th Annual 4Culture Award for Heritage Tourism to Sunny Speidel, the tour founder’s daughter and owner of the Underground Tour. For the first time this year, the Golden Rain Globe was custom made for its recipient by artist Alicia Basinger, who captured the iconic symbolism of Pioneer Square and the Underground Tour in a clay-sculpted antique street lamp under a glass dome. When in Pioneer Square, experience the Underground Tour.
Image: Alicia Basinger & Sunny Speidel, 2010 © 4Culture
