Pioneer Square Historic District, Seattle

The historic core of the city is Pioneer Square, in which stands a 60 ft high totem pole. This was the spot where the first white settlers established themselves in 1852. The old Victorian-style brick buildings (including former department stores and hotels) between the 42-storey Smith Tower (observation platform on 35th floor) in the north and King Street Station to the south were restored some years ago and now cater for tourists, with boutiques, souvenir shops and restaurants. The striking Pioneer Building is the starting point of Bill Speidel's "underground tours", which take visitors round the foundations of buildings destroyed in the 1889 fire.