Photos: Pike Place Market celebrates 110 years

Pike Place Market seems like a Seattle fixture now, with herds of cruise-bound tourists and city shoppers. All that was nearly undone -- by fire, by neglect, by development -- several times over the market's century of life. Here's a look back. less Pike Place Market seems like a Seattle fixture now, with herds of cruise-bound tourists and city shoppers. All that was nearly undone -- by fire, by neglect, by development -- several times over the market's ... more Image 1 of / 87 Caption Close Photos: Pike Place Market celebrates 110 years 1 / 87 Back to Gallery

Seattle's history doesn't go back very far in the grand scheme of things.

Compared to the cities of Asia, Europe or even North America's East Coast, Seattle -- at 166 years since its white settlers landed at Alki Point -- is quite youthful.

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But within the confines of those years, few things have had the staying power of the Pike Place Market.

Opened in 1907, the market clocks 110 years Thursday and is as popular as ever.

On its first day, farmers selling their goods ran out by midday (though some of that was from theft). And by November of that year, the main arcade was up and farmers were selling their goods from stalls they rented along the wood-planked road called Pike Place.

Popularity only soared from there and within four years, the number of stalls doubled. Farmers could rent them for $0.20 a day.

Twice, local efforts to demolish or close the market were halted just in the nick of time. The latter of those efforts started in 1963 with a plan that would have turned the market into offices, retail space and, apropos for the height of the car in America, parking garages.

With the nod from the mayor and the city council, the plan nearly took shape before a community effort pushed ahead and created a historic preservation zone around the market -- the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority.

Instead of the wrecking ball, the market got renovations in the 1970s that revitalized it along the lines of the original plans.

And in June, of course, the market opened the new MarketFront -- the first growth of the market in 40 years that included a new public plaza, brewery, seafood restaurant, housing and more.

RELATED: Pike Place opens up long-awaited MarketFront expansion

We thought it worthwhile to look back on the market on its birthday, so in the gallery above, click through photos of the market from beginning to modern day.

Daniel DeMay covers Seattle culture, city hall, and transportation for seattlepi.com. He can be reached at 206-448-8362 or danieldemay@seattlepi.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Daniel_DeMay.