Where the City Meets the Sound

The powerful story of a place shaped by trade, conflict, and continuous transformation
From canoes on the beach at Dzidzilalich to steamships and piers, Seattle's waterfront was the center of the city's economy and culture for generations. Its tumultuous history reflects a broader story of immigration, labor battles, and technological change. The 2001 Nisqually Earthquake brought fresh urgency and opportunity to remake this contested space, sparking intense debates over history preservation, the environment, and Indigenous connections long ignored.
Today, the revitalized Waterfront Park offers a new chapter in this ongoing story. The removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the reconstruction of the seawall have redefined how the city interacts with its shoreline. With its blend of historic structures and forward-looking public spaces, the waterfront will continue to shape Seattle's identity. Street signs now mark Dzidzilalich, acknowledging the presence of Coast Salish peoples, while restored piers recall the area's industrious past.
Jennifer Ott details the waterfront's history, from its deep past to its complex present. Her book reveals how battles over control, identity, and space have forged one of the city's most iconic places, with a history mirrors that Seattle itself-rich, diverse, and constantly evolving.

Jennifer Ott is a historian and assistant director of HistoryLink, the online encyclopedia of Washington state history. She is coauthor of Olmsted in Seattle: Creating a Park System for a Modern City (HistoryLink, 2019) and Waterway: The Story of Seattle's Locks and Ship Canal (HistoryLink, 2017). She lives in Seattle.