October 1990 -- The National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) held its annual meeting and professional improvement conference in Seattle, Washington in 1990. It was the first of many NACAA meetings I attended. I brought Mom with me. We toured a bit, then she went to visit a sick friend and I went to my meeting.
The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle. It rises 605 feet above the city, offering spectacular views below. I went up twice, once with Mom and once with extension colleagues.
Space Needle
View from the Needle
City below
Pike Place Market is another Seattle icon. It is a 9-acre public farmers' market situated along the downtown waterfront. It was a cool place to visit.
Pike Place Market
Price of bananas hasn't changed in 35 years.
Pig in front of Pike's Market
Seattle is the 5th largest container port in the US
Gateway for trade with Asia-Pacific
Seattle has an underground city. It is a network of subterranean passageways and the old foundations of 19th-century buildings that were left behind when the city raised its street levels following the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. One of the reasons for raising the city was sewage backups. We took the underground tour. It was fascinating. We learned the modern flushing toilet was popularized by a man named Thomas W. Crapper.
The Crapper
A city beneath a city
Post created 20 May 2026