by mahalie, 2005/06/30

A great BoingBoing post about declassified submarine manuals reminded me that visiting the Soviet-era Russian Cobra would have been a good thing to do with my Cold-War-era Dad who’s visiting from Iowa sometime in September. Fortunately, there’s more to satisfy his myopic American history interests in the area, all of which I’ve somehow managed to miss in my 7 years as a Seattle resident!

All in Pioneer Square:
• Seattle’s ubiquitous Underground Tour ($11/adult)
• The Klondike Gold Rush Mueum (free)
• Smith Tower Observation Deck ($6/adult)
• Elliott Bay Book Company, founded in 1973, isn’t exactly historic but it houses many books on history and is housed in the historically-well-endowed Globe Building
• Pioneer Square Park
• (both Pioneer Square vicinity parks are currently slated for much-needed improvements to make them more inviting to residents and visitors)

Tickets for the ‘Pioneer Square Passport’ are $20 and includes access to the Underground Tour, Smith Tower and Russian Submarine* and discounts at several Pioneer Square businesses. Read more about the passport in a USA Today article titled Emerald City offers much more than just rain. More than rain? Who knew!?

_{The Russian submarine left in late April for San Diego, though I’ve been unable to locate local news of it. I guess it’s still pretty stealthy.}