All language subtitles for Aerial Cities Series 1 3of6 Seattle 24 1080p

IT TOWERS OVER
HILLS AND LAKES...

HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF THE MOST
VIBRANT CITIES IN AMERICA

AND IS FAMOUS FOR ITS NEEDLE
THAT NEARLY TOUCHES THE SKY.

BUT PEOPLE IN SEATTLE KNOW
THE HARD WORK IT TAKES

TO KEEP THEIR CITY RUNNING 24/7.

FROM TUG CAPTAINS WHO PLY
THE BUSY WATERS OF ITS PORT...

TO ITS PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS
WHO TRAIN HARD...

AND ENGINEERS WHO HAVE TO BRAVE
TERRIFYING HEIGHTS.

IT WAS HERE THAT A TIMBER BARON
NAMED BOEING

FIRST FELL IN LOVE
WITH FLIGHT...

WHERE MANY OF TODAY’S
TECH GIANTS GOT THEIR START...

AND WHERE A COFFEE SHOP OWNER
TURNED A SINGLE STORE

INTO A BILLION-DOLLAR CHAIN.

SEATTLE MAY BE FAMOUS
FOR HAVING MANY RAINY DAYS,

BUT PEOPLE HERE LIVE
TO GET OUTDOORS.

WHETHER IT’S TO RACE
ON THEIR LAKES,

CLAMBER UP LOCAL PEAKS,

OR EVEN ATTEMPT
THE DANGEROUS, HIGH, ICY SUMMITS

THAT ARE ALL AROUND THEM.

AND WHEN NIGHT FALLS

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THE LIGHTS
OF THIS PORT CITY

WITH A WATERFRONT THAT
RIVALS ANY IN THE WORLD

AND AN AWE-INSPIRING GARDEN
OF COLOR AND GLASS.

ALL THIS IN JUST ONE DAY
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE!

♪

♪

♪

FROM THE MOMENT THE SUN RISES
IN SEATTLE

TO THE TIME IT SETS,

THERE’S ONE FORM ON THE HORIZON
THAT ALWAYS STANDS OUT...

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

FROM A DISTANCE IT LOOKS LIKE
A GIANT SPACESHIP

HOVERING IN THE SKY.

BUT WHAT’S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE
TO SEE FROM THE GROUND

IS THE DEATH-DEFYING WORK

THAT HAPPENS ON TOP
OF SEATTLE’S SPACE NEEDLE.

IT’S 9:48 A.M., AND AN ENGINEER
NAMED VALERIY PALANCHUK

IS BEGINNING HIS WORK DAY
WITH A TERRIFYING CLIMB.

HE HAS TO HAUL HIMSELF UP
TO THE VERY TOP

OF THE SPIRE ON THE NEEDLE

IN ORDER TO CHANGE
THE LIGHT BULB ON ITS TIP.

FOR SAFETY, ENGINEERS ON
THE ROOF OF THE SPACE NEEDLE

ALWAYS WORK IN PAIRS,
AND TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION.

FELLOW ENGINEER MATT WAFFLE
WILL KEEP AN EYE ON VALERIY

AS HE MAKES HIS CLIMB.

THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO THE TOP

IS ONE VERY CAREFUL STEP
AT A TIME.

THERE’S NO LANDMARK IN SEATTLE
MORE FAMOUS THAN THIS ONE.

WITH ITS CONCRETE LEGS,

SPACESHIP-LIKE HEAD,

AND TOWERING 40-FOOT SPIRE,

THE SPACE NEEDLE
HAS BEEN A SEATTLE ICON

FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

IT WAS CREATED TO SERVE
AS THE CENTERPIECE

OF THE 1962 WORLD’S FAIR,

TO CELEBRATE SEATTLE’S PROWESS
IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING,

AND TO PROMOTE THE POTENTIAL
ROLE THAT THIS CITY COULD PLAY

IN THE FUTURE OF
AMERICAN AEROSPACE.

THE INVESTORS WHO BUILT IT
WERE THINKING BIG.

AT THE TIME, SEATTLE
WAS ALREADY FAMOUS

FOR HAVING THE TALLEST BUILDING
IN THE NATION WEST OF OHIO.

THAT STRUCTURE, THE SMITH TOWER,

STILL STANDS PROUD
OVER PIONEER SQUARE.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1914

BY A MAN WHO MADE HIS FORTUNE
SELLING GUNS AND TYPEWRITERS.

ALL THE FLOORS OF THE
SMITH TOWER ARE OFFICE SPACE,

EXCEPT FOR ITS
PYRAMID-SHAPED ROOF,

WHICH IS A TWO-STORY
PENTHOUSE APARTMENT!

THIS TOWER TOPS OUT
AT MORE THAN 460 FEET,

BUT THE BUILDERS
OF THE SPACE NEEDLE

WANTED THEIR NEW STRUCTURE
TO BE EVEN TALLER.

IN ONE OF THEIR
ORIGINAL SKETCHES

IT LOOKED LIKE A GIANT
TETHERED BALLOON.

BUT A LATER DESIGN, RESEMBLING
A FLYING SAUCER, WON OUT.

THE SPACE NEEDLE WAS COMPLETED
ON DECEMBER 8, 1961,

IN JUST 400 DAYS,

IN TIME FOR
THE OPENING CEREMONIES

OF THE WORLD’S FAIR
IN APRIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

AT 605 FEET, IT WON THE HONOR
OF BEING THE TALLEST STRUCTURE

WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

IT’S BEEN A SEATTLE ICON
EVER SINCE.

THE ENGINEERING OF
THE SPACE NEEDLE IS SO PRECISE,

THE ROTATING RESTAURANT ON TOP

ONLY NEEDS
A 1.5-HORSEPOWER MOTOR

TO KEEP IT SPINNING.

EVERY DAY, NEARLY 3,000 VISITORS

ROCKET UP TO
ITS OBSERVATION DECK,

SO THEY CAN BE AWED
WITH A 360-DEGREE VIEW

OF SEATTLE AND PUGET SOUND.

BUT WHAT THEY CAN’T SEE

IS THE DARING WORK THAT’S GOING
ON RIGHT ABOVE THEIR HEADS.

ENGINEER VALERIY PALANCHUK
IS HALFWAY THROUGH HIS CLIMB

UP THE TOWER’S 40-FOOT SPIRE.

THE SPACE NEEDLE WAS ENGINEERED
TO WITHSTAND

UP TO 200-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS.

BUT UP HERE,
IT’S EASY TO GET SEASICK.

FOR EVERY 10 MILES PER HOUR
OF WIND,

THE SPACE NEEDLE SWAYS ONE INCH.

ON A STORMY DAY IT CAN FEEL LIKE
YOU’RE CLINGING TO THE MAST

OF A TALL SHIP THAT’S
ROLLING IN THE WAVES.

ONCE VALERIY REACHES THE TOP,

HE FASTENS HIMSELF ON TIGHT
WITH CLIPS AND LANYARDS.

HE’S NOW MORE THAN 600 FEET
OVER THE STREETS BELOW.

♪

DURING THE WORLD’S FAIR IN 1962,

A MORE THAN 40-FOOT
NATURAL GAS TORCH

BURNED FROM
THE SPACE NEEDLE’S ROOF

TO SHOWCASE WHAT MANY IMAGINED

WOULD BE THE ENERGY
OF THE FUTURE.

TODAY THE TORCH HAS BEEN
REPLACED BY AN AVIATION BEACON,

WHICH HELPS PILOTS OF SEAPLANES
LIKE THIS ONE

AVOID COLLISIONS WITH THE NEEDLE

WHEN THEY COME IN
TO LAND ON LAKE UNION.

IT’S WHY THE POWERFUL BEACON
ON THE SPIRE’S TIP

NEEDS TO WORK PROPERLY 24/7.

BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER

THERE ARE JUST 71 SUNNY DAYS
ON AVERAGE IN SEATTLE.

ON MOST DAYS, THE BEACON GETS
POUNDED BY FOG AND SALTY AIR

FROM PUGET SOUND.

SO WHENEVER VALERIY
MAKES THIS CLIMB,

HE HAS TO CLEAN AND SERVICE IT

TO MAKE SURE ITS FLASHING LIGHT
WILL STAY ON

FOR AT LEAST
ONE MORE YEAR TO COME.

♪

♪

HIS WORK IS FINALLY DONE.

FOR THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH
TO MAKE THIS CLIMB,

THERE’S NO MORE THRILLING SPOT

TO TAKE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
THAN THIS!

BUT WHEN YOU PEER DOWN
ON THIS CITY

FROM THOUSANDS OF FEET
UP IN THE SKY,

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE AN ISLAND.

TO THE SOUTH IS A RIVER
KNOWN AS THE DUWAMISH,

WHICH SEPARATES SEATTLE
FROM WEST SEATTLE.

TO THE EAST IS A GIANT
BODY OF FRESHWATER

KNOWN AS LAKE WASHINGTON.

IN THE MIDDLE IS LAKE UNION,

WHICH LIES ENTIRELY INSIDE
SEATTLE’S CITY LIMITS.

AND TO THE WEST IS PUGET SOUND.

IT’S PART OF A VAST NETWORK
OF INLAND WATERWAYS

THAT LEAD TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

WITH SO MUCH WATER
SURROUNDING THIS CITY,

MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK DOWNTOWN

HAVE TO JOURNEY OVER GREAT
BODIES OF WATER TO GET THERE.

FOR SOME, IT’S A DRIVE OVER
ONE OF TWO LONG PONTOON BRIDGES

THAT CROSS LAKE WASHINGTON.

BUT FOR 75,000 OTHERS,

GETTING TO WORK IN SEATTLE
REQUIRES A DAILY COMMUTE

ON THE LARGEST FERRY SYSTEM
IN AMERICA.

IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK
OUT PAST THE SKYLINE OF SEATTLE

IN THE MORNING

AND NOT CATCH SIGHT OF ONE OF
THESE GREEN AND WHITE VESSELS

AND THE LONG ARCS
OF THEIR WAKES.

THERE ARE FERRY TERMINALS,
BIG AND SMALL,

ON ISLANDS ALL OVER PUGET SOUND.

BUT THIS ONE
ON BAINBRIDGE ISLAND,

JUST A FEW MILES AWAY
FROM SEATTLE, IS THE BUSIEST.

17,000 PEOPLE CROSS
THE GANGPLANKS

HERE AT WINSLOW EVERY DAY.

A DIRECT JOURNEY TO THE CITY
BY FERRY TAKES AN HOUR OR LESS.

♪

AND ALL MORNING,

AS THESE VESSELS PULL
INTO THE FERRY TERMINAL,

THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS
FLOOD OFF,

AND ANOTHER DAY
IN SEATTLE BEGINS.

BY THE TIME MOST OFFICE WORKERS
ARE SETTLING INTO THEIR SEATS,

HUNDREDS OF OTHERS
ARE FILLING THE STREET,

OUTSIDE SEATTLE’S LEGENDARY
PIKE PLACE MARKET.

THIS PUBLIC FARMERS MARKET IS
FAMOUS FOR ITS FISH SELLERS,

WHO FLING THEIR FRESH CATCH
THROUGH THE AIR TO EAGER BUYERS.

BUT EVERY MORNING,
HUNDREDS OF COFFEE AFICIONADOS

FLOCK HERE, TOO, FOR A CHANCE
TO VISIT THE ORIGINAL STARBUCKS.

THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST POPULAR
PILGRIMAGE SITE IN SEATTLE.

IN 1971, THREE FRIENDS LAUNCHED
A SMALL COFFEE SHOP HERE,

WHICH THEY NAMED
AFTER A CHARACTER

IN HERMAN MELVILLE’S NOVEL
"MOBY DICK."

THEY ALSO CHOSE A MERMAID
FOR THEIR LOGO.

THEIR MISSION WAS REALLY
TO SELL FRESHLY ROASTED BEANS,

NOT ESPRESSOS AND CAPPUCCINOS.

BUT IN 1987,

ANOTHER SEATTLE COFFEE SHOP
OWNER NAMED HOWARD SCHULTZ

BOUGHT OUT THE FOUNDERS
OF STARBUCKS,

STARTED OFFERING
ITALIAN-STYLE ESPRESSO DRINKS,

AND TOOK THE COMPANY PUBLIC
A FEW YEARS LATER.

THERE ARE NOW 24,000 STARBUCKS
LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE.

AND THAT’S WHY THERE
ARE SO MANY FANS

WILLING TO SPEND THEIR MORNING
WAITING IN LINE

FOR A CHANCE TO STEP INSIDE

THE COMPANY’S ORIGINAL
WOOD-LINED STORE.

TO SOURCE ITS COFFEE BEANS
FROM GROWERS ON FOUR CONTINENTS,

AND THEN ROAST
AND DISTRIBUTE THEM

TO STORES ALL OVER THE EARTH,
EVERY DAY,

STARBUCKS RELIES ON ONE
OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED

GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS
EVER INVENTED.

WHAT MAKES IT ALL POSSIBLE

ARE STANDARDIZED
SHIPPING CONTAINERS LIKE THESE

AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE.

IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT
THE COMPANY’S HEADQUARTERS

LIES RIGHT HERE
NEXT TO THE PORT.

TO HONOR THE HUMBLE SHIPPING
CONTAINER’S ROLE IN ITS SUCCESS,

STARBUCKS IS NOW REPURPOSING
THEM AS COFFEE SHOPS.

ALL DAY LONG,
COFFEE DRINKERS LINE UP

AT THIS DRIVE-THRU
CONTAINERIZED STARBUCKS STORE,

WHICH IS ONE OF TWO IN THE CITY.

THEY MAY BE SIMPLE STRUCTURES,

BUT THEY ARE EVIDENCE
OF JUST HOW GLOBAL

THIS ONCE-TINY SEATTLE
COFFEE SHOP HAS BECOME.

WHEN YOU SPEND A DAY
IN THE SKIES OVER SEATTLE,

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT
YOU MIGHT DISCOVER

ON THE STREETS
AND ROOFTOPS BELOW.

BUT IF YOU SOAR PAST
THE SPACE NEEDLE AND PEER DOWN,

THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE
YOU’LL CATCH SIGHT

OF SOME GARDENERS LIKE THESE.

BUT THIS IS NOT YOUR
TYPICAL BACKYARD GARDEN.

IT’S ONE OF 98 THAT LIE ON TOP

OF A MASSIVE MULTISTORY PARKING
GARAGE ON MERCER STREET.

THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 80
CITY-RUN COMMUNITY GARDENS

ACROSS SEATTLE, BUT THIS IS
THE MOST UNIQUE OF THEM ALL.

IT’S CALLED THE UPGARDEN.

AN OLD AIRSTREAM TRAILER
SERVES AS A TOOL SHED

FOR THE 98 GARDENERS
WHO HAVE PLOTS HERE.

AND A 1963 FORD GALAXY
IS NOW A PLANTER.

THESE DAYS, THERE’S VERY LITTLE
AVAILABLE LAND LEFT IN SEATTLE,

AND PEOPLE ARE USING ROOFTOPS
FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

FROM GARDENING...

TO YOGA!

AND WHEN LUNCHTIME ROLLS AROUND
OVER AT AMAZON,

TECH WORKERS OFTEN HEAD
UP TO GREEN SPACE

ON THE COMPANY’S ROOFTOPS.

WITH WALKWAYS AND
ELABORATE PLANTINGS,

THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE PLACE
TO GET WORK DONE

IN THE AGE OF THE OPEN OFFICE.

AND THEY’RE NOT JUST BEING
DESIGNED FOR HUMANS.

MORE THAN 4,000 AMAZON EMPLOYEES
HAVE REGISTERED

TO BRING THEIR DOGS TO WORK.

AND THAT’S ONE REASON
THE COMPANY

HAS TRANSFORMED THIS ROOF,

ON THE 17th FLOOR
OF ITS DOPPLER BUILDING,

INTO A DOG PARK.

[DOGS BARKING]

THERE ARE EVEN
FIRE HYDRANTS AND LOGS

IN CASE THESE PETS GET CONFUSED

ABOUT WHY THEY’VE BEEN LET LOOSE

MORE THAN 150 FEET
ABOVE THE STREET.

[BARKING]

SEATTLE’S TECH BOOM HAS HELPED
DRIVE A BUILDING BOOM

IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.

IN 2017 THERE WERE MORE
CONSTRUCTION CRANES AT WORK

IN THIS CITY THAN
IN ANY OTHER CITY IN AMERICA

FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING!

MOST NEW BUILDINGS
ARE RISING HERE,

IN A NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED
SOUTH LAKE UNION.

THIS IS THE SITE OF AMAZON’S
VAST URBAN CAMPUS,

WHICH IS SOON
PREDICTED TO SPRAWL

OVER 12 MILLION SQUARE FEET
OF OFFICE SPACE.

AMAZON HAS EVEN GOBBLED UP SPACE
THAT WAS BEING USED

BY THE REGION’S LARGEST
TECH GIANT, MICROSOFT.

AT THE HEART OF AMAZON’S CAMPUS

IS A NEW STRUCTURE
CALLED THE SPHERES.

THESE GLASS DOMES HOUSE

CLOSE TO 40,000 DIFFERENT
SPECIES OF PLANTS.

WITH TREES AND
WATERFALLS INSIDE,

IT WAS BUILT SO TECH EMPLOYEES
CAN CONNECT

WITH THE NATURAL WORLD,

WHILE BEING INSPIRED
BY INNOVATION AND DESIGN.

A FEW BLOCKS AWAY,
NEAR THE SPACE NEEDLE,

IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CHARITY
OPERATIONS IN THE WORLD,

ALSO FUNDED BY A TECH GIANT.

THIS IS THE HEADQUARTERS

OF THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES
FOUNDATION,

WHICH THE MICROSOFT CO-FOUNDER
AND HIS WIFE HAVE FUNDED

WITH DONATIONS TOTALING
MORE THAN $31 BILLION.

INSIDE THESE
BOOMERANG-SHAPED BUILDINGS,

THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS
PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD

THAT HELP TACKLE ISSUES OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, HUNGER, POVERTY,

AND EDUCATION, AMONG OTHERS.

BUT THERE ARE
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS

THAT TECH BILLIONAIRES IN
SEATTLE SPEND THEIR FORTUNES.

IT’S 12:25 P.M.,
AND A CROWD HAS GATHERED

ON THE SHORES
OF LAKE WASHINGTON.

THIS PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE
ON THE WATER

IS THE PRACTICE FACILITY
OF THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS,

A TEAM THAT’S BEEN OWNED BY
MICROSOFT’S OTHER CO-FOUNDER,

PAUL ALLEN,
FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.

ALLEN HAPPENS TO LIVE NEARBY
IN THIS ESTATE

ON THE SHORES OF THE LAKE.

HE EVEN HAS HIS OWN
FLOATING HELIPAD OUT FRONT.

ONE REASON SEATTLEITES
LOVE THEIR HAWKS

IS BECAUSE THEY CAME VERY CLOSE
TO LOSING THEM!

IN FEBRUARY 1996, THE FORMER
OWNER OF THE SEAHAWKS DECLARED

THAT HE WAS MOVING THE TEAM
TO CALIFORNIA.

A FLEET OF VANS ARRIVED
TO SHIP THE HAWKS SOUTH.

KING COUNTY FOUGHT THE MOVE
IN COURT AND FAILED,

AND THAT’S WHEN PAUL ALLEN,
A SEAHAWKS FAN SINCE CHILDHOOD,

AGREED TO BUY THE TEAM
FOR $200 MILLION

TO KEEP IT IN SEATTLE.

SINCE 2002, THE SEAHAWKS
HAVE PLAYED HERE

AT CENTURYLINK FIELD.

THIS STADIUM WAS SPECIALLY
DESIGNED AND BUILT TO BE LOUD,

AND IT’S BEEN
A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.

NOT ONLY DID FANS HERE
SPUR THE HAWKS ON

BEFORE THEIR SUPER BOWL WIN
IN 2014,

THE STADIUM ITSELF HAS WON
THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TWICE

FOR HAVING
THE LOUDEST CROWD NOISE.

WHEN THE HAWKS PLAY
HERE AT HOME,

JUST ABOUT EVERYONE
IN SEATTLE KNOWS IT.

BUT THE NOISE OF SPORTS FANS

SCREAMING AT THE TOP
OF THEIR LUNGS

IS JUST ONE OF THE SOUNDS
THAT SEATTLE IS FAMOUS FOR.

ALL DAY LONG, ON THE WEST SHORE
OF LAKE WASHINGTON,

SEATTLEITES AND OTHERS
COME TO EXPLORE

ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE
URBAN PARKS IN THE WORLD.

IT LIES ON THE SITE OF
AN OLD NAVAL AIR STATION

KNOWN AS SAND POINT.

THIS SMALL FOREST
OF 12 METAL SCULPTURES

WAS CREATED IN THE EARLY 1980s
BY ARTIST DOUGLAS R. HOLLIS.

BUT THOSE WHO COME TO SIT

AMIDST THESE STRANGE-LOOKING
METALLIC TOWERS

ARE REALLY HERE TO LISTEN.

THE NAME OF THIS INSTALLATION IS
"A SOUND GARDEN."

HOLLIS DESIGNED HIS SCULPTURES
TO FUNCTION

AS LARGE ORGAN PIPES,

SO THAT WHEN THE WIND BLOWS,
EVEN LIGHTLY,

THEY CREATE EERIE-SOUNDING HUMS,
CREAKS, WHISTLES, AND TONES.

♪

IN 1984, THIS INSTALLATION
INSPIRED A NEW SEATTLE BAND

TO NAME THEMSELVES SOUNDGARDEN.

THEIR MUCH-LOUDER GRUNGE SOUND
WAS SOON KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD.

♪

THE BAND SOUNDGARDEN WAS ALSO
ONE OF THE INSPIRATIONS

FOR ANOTHER SEATTLE
MUSIC LEGEND--

NIRVANA LEAD SINGER KURT COBAIN.

COBAIN LIVED HERE,
IN THIS BROWN SHINGLED HOUSE,

NOT FAR FROM THE SHORES
OF LAKE WASHINGTON.

BUT IT WAS ALSO HERE, IN 1994,

THAT HE DIED OF AN APPARENT
SUICIDE AT THE AGE OF JUST 27,

ONLY 7 YEARS AFTER
FOUNDING NIRVANA.

♪

TODAY, NIRVANA FANS FROM AROUND
THE WORLD COME TO THIS BENCH

IN A PARK NEAR HIS FORMER HOME

TO PAY HOMAGE
TO THEIR MUSIC HERO.

THE STORY OF HOW SEATTLE BECAME
THE BIRTHPLACE OF GRUNGE

IS TOLD NEARBY,

INSIDE THIS STRANGE-LOOKING
STRUCTURE AT THE SEATTLE CENTER.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED
THE EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT

WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED
BY PAUL ALLEN IN 2000,

BUT HAS SINCE BEEN RENAMED THE
MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE, OR MOPOP.

INSIDE ARE MORE THAN 200
NIRVANA ARTIFACTS,

AS WELL AS
THE LARGEST COLLECTION

OF JIMI HENDRIX MEMORABILIA
IN THE WORLD.

HENDRIX WAS A SEATTLE NATIVE,
BORN HERE IN 1942.

ARCHITECT FRANK GEHRY HAS SAID
HIS DESIGN FOR THE MUSEUM

WAS INSPIRED BY
THE SHAPES OF GUITARS.

BUT IT HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN
POPULAR WITH CRITICS.

ONE, WRITING
FOR "THE NEW YORK TIMES,"

DESCRIBED IT AS,

"SOMETHING THAT CRAWLED OUT OF
THE SEA, ROLLED OVER AND DIED."

BUT TODAY, IT’S ONE OF THE MOST
COLORFUL SIGHTS IN SEATTLE,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU PEER DOWN
ON IT FROM ABOVE.

THERE’S MUSIC HISTORY IN THIS
CITY IN UNEXPECTED PLACES, TOO.

THIS HOTEL ON THE WATERFRONT
IS ONE OF THEM.

ON AUGUST 21, 1964, THE BEATLES
CAME TO SEATTLE TO PERFORM

AND SPENT THE NIGHT HERE
AT THE EDGEWATER INN.

BEFORE THEIR CONCERT,

THE FAB FOUR FAMOUSLY STUCK
THEIR HEADS OUT OF A WINDOW

IN THEIR SECOND FLOOR SUITE,
ALONG WITH THREE FISHING RODS,

TO PROVIDE A PHOTO OP

AND TRY THEIR LUCK FISHING
IN ELLIOTT BAY.

THE PRESS LOVED IT,

AND THE IMAGES OF PAUL, JOHN,
GEORGE, AND RINGO

FISHING FROM THE EDGEWATER

QUICKLY SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD.

THE ROOM WHERE THEY STAYED,
NUMBER 272,

IS NOW KNOWN AS
THE BEATLES SUITE.

THE BEATLES NEVER MADE IT
TO THE TOP OF THE SPACE NEEDLE.

GEORGE IS SAID TO HAVE CLAIMED
THAT THE VIEW OF SEATTLE

WAS BETTER FROM THE GROUND.

AND TODAY, MANY YOUNG
SEATTLEITES MIGHT AGREE,

ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SPEND
THEIR SUMMER DAYS

UNDER THE JETS OF
THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNTAIN.

LIKE THE SPACE NEEDLE,

THIS FOUNTAIN WAS BUILT
FOR THE 1962 WORLD’S FAIR,

AND IT’S BEEN IN OPERATION
EVER SINCE.

ITS ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS
UPDATED IN THE 1990s,

BY THE SAME FOUNTAIN DESIGNERS

THAT CREATED THE FOUNTAINS
OF BELLAGIO IN LAS VEGAS.

IT MAY RAIN IN SEATTLE ALMOST
HALF THE DAYS OF THE YEAR,

BUT WHEN THE SUN IS OUT,

SEATTLEITES STILL LOVE TO
COME HERE AND GET DRENCHED

BY THE FOUNTAIN’S
MORE THAN 100 MIST JETS,

MICRO-SHOOTERS,
AND SUPER SHOOTERS.

♪

WHEN YOU LOOK UP INTO THE SKIES
OVER SEATTLE

ON CLEAR DAYS LIKE THIS ONE,

THE SNOWCAPPED PEAK
OF MOUNT RAINIER

TOWERS IN THE DISTANCE,

14,411 FEET IN THE SKY.

WORKERS DOWNTOWN OFTEN
CATCH SIGHT OF IT

FROM THE WINDOWS
OF THEIR OFFICE TOWERS,

AND EVEN TUG CAPTAINS CAN
SPOT THIS VOLCANIC PEAK

AS THEY PLY THE WATERS
OF ELLIOTT BAY.

RAINER MAY SEEM PEACEFUL
FROM A DISTANCE,

BUT FOR MANY WHO HAVE
TRIED TO CLIMB IT,

IT HAS ALSO PROVEN TO BE DEADLY.

THERE ARE MORE GLACIERS
ON THIS MOUNTAIN

THAN ON ANY OTHER SINGLE PEAK
IN THE LOWER 48.

AND OVER THE YEARS,
MORE THAN 90 CLIMBERS HAVE DIED

TRYING TO REACH OR RETURN
FROM ITS SUMMIT.

BUT SEATTLE IS SURROUNDED ON ALL
SIDES BY DRAMATIC LANDSCAPE.

TO THE NORTH IS THE
NO-LESS-IMPRESSIVE MOUNT BAKER,

WHICH RISES 10,781 FEET
OVER THE CASCADES.

TO THE WEST ARE THE MOUNTAINS
OF OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK,

WHOSE JAGGED FORMS
CAN OFTEN ONLY BE SPOTTED

ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

SOME PEOPLE IN SEATTLE ARE HAPPY
TO ADMIRE THE STUNNING MOUNTAINS

THAT SURROUND THEM
FROM A DISTANCE.

BUT SEATTLEITES ARE WELL KNOWN
FOR HEADING OUT INTO THE WILD,

WHENEVER THEY CAN.

30 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST,

A RELATIVELY SMALL PEAK

HAS MANAGED TO SECURE
A SPECIAL PLACE

IN THE HEARTS AND LIVES
OF MANY SEATTLEITES.

IT’S KNOWN AS MOUNT SI.

IT TAKES A FOUR-MILE HIKE
UP A SERIES OF SWITCHBACKS

TO REACH ITS SUMMIT.

THE GRANITE FACE OF MOUNT SI
ISN’T JUST WELL-KNOWN

TO RESIDENTS OF PUGET SOUND.

IT’S ALSO VERY FAMILIAR
TO TELEVISION VIEWERS

AROUND THE WORLD.

MOUNT SI IS ONE OF THE PEAKS

THAT FEATURES LARGE IN THE
TELEVISION SERIES "TWIN PEAKS."

IT’S INCLUDED IN THE SERIES’
OPENING CREDITS

AND PLAYED A ROLE IN SOME
OF THE SHOW’S SCENES.

THAT’S BECAUSE "TWIN PEAKS"
WAS FILMED IN NORTH BEND

AND OTHER NEARBY TOWNS
IN THE VALLEY BELOW.

ALMOST 100,000 PEOPLE VISIT

THIS STUNNING PIECE
OF WILDERNESS EVERY YEAR.

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS
OF REACHING THE SUMMIT

IS THE CHANCE TO LOOK BACK AT
THE TOWERING SKYLINE OF SEATTLE

IN THE DISTANCE, RISING ABOVE
THE WATERS OF LAKE WASHINGTON

AND PUGET SOUND.

WITH SO MUCH RUGGED TERRAIN
AROUND SEATTLE,

IT’S COMMON FOR PEOPLE
TO END UP LOST, INJURED,

AND SOMETIMES EVEN CLOSE
TO DEATH, FAR FROM HELP.

LUCKILY, THOSE IN TROUBLE

HAVE ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST
ELITE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS

ON STANDBY, JUST MINUTES AWAY.

♪

IT’S 2:00 P.M.
AT THE U.S. NAVY’S AIR STATION

ON WHIDBEY ISLAND,
NORTHWEST OF SEATTLE.

ON THE FIELD,

MEMBERS OF THE WHIDBEY ISLAND
SEARCH AND RESCUE, OR SAR TEAM,

ARE GETTING READY TO LIFT OFF.

THE BLACK HAWKS THEY FLY IN
ARE EASY TO RECOGNIZE

BY THEIR DISTINCTIVE
ORANGE AND WHITE COLORS.

THIS IS A VERY ACTIVE AIRFIELD.

IT’S HOME TO THE NAVY’S LARGEST
FLEET OF GROWLERS.

THESE PLANES ARE
SIMILAR TO F-18s,

BUT ARE SPECIALLY EQUIPPED
FOR ELECTRONIC WARFARE.

ALSO HERE ARE THE NAVY’S LATEST
P-8 POSEIDONS AND SMALLER P-3s,

WHICH ARE ALL USED FOR
ANTI-SUBMARINE OPERATIONS

AND RECONNAISSANCE
AROUND THE WORLD.

IF ANY OF THE PILOTS OR CREW
FROM THIS BASE GET INTO TROUBLE,

THE SAR TEAM IS READY TO RESPOND
WITHIN MINUTES, 24/7.

BUT DOWNED AIRCRAFT
FROM N.A.S. WHIDBEY ARE RARE.

SO WHEN THE SAR TEAM DEPLOYS,

THEY ARE USUALLY HEADING OUT
TO SUPPORT LOCAL AGENCIES,

TO RESCUE HIKERS, BOATERS
OR OTHERS,

WHO ARE USUALLY HANGING ON
FOR THEIR LIVES.

IT TAKES RIGOROUS TRAINING
TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE READY.

TODAY, THEY’VE COME TO
THE MAINLAND NORTH OF SEATTLE.

THIS DRAMATIC LANDFORM

IS ACTUALLY THE THROAT
OF A FORMER VOLCANO.

THE TEAM COMES HERE TO PRACTICE
EXTRACTIONS OF INJURED CLIMBERS.

WHEN A CLIMBER BREAKS A LIMB
OR GETS INJURED

ON A STEEP ROCK FACE
LIKE THIS ONE,

IT’S NOT POSSIBLE
FOR THE SAR TEAM TO LAND.

THEIR ONLY CHOICE IS TO POSITION
THE HELICOPTER AND ITS BLADES

JUST A FEW FEET FROM THE ROCK

SO A MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
CAN RAPPEL DOWN

TO COLLECT THE PATIENT.

MAINTAINING A HOVER WITH
THE BLACK HAWK’S BLADES

SO CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAIN

IS A JOB FOR ONLY THE MOST
SKILLED PILOTS IN THE NAVY.

GET IT WRONG,

AND THE SAR TEAM COULD END UP
NEEDING A RESCUE THEMSELVES.

AS SOON AS THIS MEDICAL
CREWMEMBER GIVES THE OKAY,

THE PILOT IS SAFE TO PULL AWAY.

THIS TEAM HAS TO BE READY

FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY TYPE
OF RESCUE IMAGINABLE

IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
ON LAND AND WATER.

A CANYON NEARBY IS WHERE THEY
PRACTICE PULLING FALLEN CLIMBERS

OUT OF DEEP GLACIAL CREVASSES.

THE SAR TEAM IS CAPABLE
OF RAPPELLING

DOWN MORE THAN 200 FEET.

BUT TO KEEP THEM SAFE
AT THE END OF THE ROPE,

THE PILOT HAS TO STAY
PERFECTLY POSITIONED

DIRECTLY OVER THE CUT.

DURING GLACIAL RESCUES,
HIGH WINDS AND OTHER CONDITIONS

CAN MAKE IT HARD
TO MAINTAIN A HOVER.

IF THIS HELICOPTER
GETS PUSHED BY WIND

EVEN A FEW FEET TO THE SIDE,

THE CREW AND PATIENT

COULD GET SLAMMED AGAINST
THE CANYON’S WALLS

AS THEY ARE BEING
HOISTED TO SAFETY.

THAT’S WHY THE AIRCREW ON BOARD
KEEPS CAREFUL WATCH

ON THE ACTION BELOW.

THIS TEAM PERFORMS
ABOUT SIX RESCUES A MONTH,

AND NOT ALL OF THEIR PATIENTS
ARE ADVENTURE-SEEKERS.

WHEN TIMBER WORKERS GET INJURED
IN FORESTS FAR FROM HELP

AND CAN’T GET OUT BY THEMSELVES,

THIS NAVY SAR TEAM
OFTEN GETS THE CALL.

WITHIN JUST MINUTES,

THEY CAN DROP DOWN BETWEEN
TOWERING CEDARS LIKE THESE,

PACKAGE A PATIENT ON THE GROUND,

AND THEN LIFT THEM OUT OF DANGER
STRAIGHT UP INTO THE SKY.

FOR THOSE WHO GET RESCUED,
IT MUST BE AN INCREDIBLE FEELING

TO BE INJURED AND ALONE IN
A REMOTE FOREST ONE MINUTE,

AND THEN BE RACING THROUGH
THE AIR TO SAFETY THE NEXT.

♪

IT’S ALL PART OF
A DAY IN THE LIFE

OF THIS ELITE TEAM
OF FIRST RESPONDERS,

TRAINED FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING
HUMANS OR NATURE SEND THEIR WAY

IN THE WILDS AROUND SEATTLE.

♪

TODAY, MILITARY JETS,
HELICOPTERS, AND SEAPLANES

SOAR THROUGH THE SKIES
OVER PUGET SOUND.

BUT JUST OVER A CENTURY AGO,

AIRPLANES WERE THE MOST EXCITING
NEW INVENTION ON EARTH...

ESPECIALLY FOR
A MAN NAMED BOEING

WHO TURNED SEATTLE INTO
THE AEROSPACE GIANT IT IS TODAY!

♪

SOFTWARE, COFFEE AND TECH
ARE SOME OF THE PRODUCTS

FOR WHICH SEATTLE IS
BEST KNOWN TODAY.

BUT THE FIRST EUROPEANS
WHO ARRIVED IN THIS REGION

MADE THEIR FORTUNES IN FUR!

A PLACE KNOWN AS FORT NISQUALLY
OFFERS A CHANCE TO IMAGINE

WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE FOR
THOSE EARLY EUROPEAN TRADERS.

IT’S A PARTIAL REPLICA
OF AN EARLY FUR TRADING POST

THAT WAS OWNED BY
THE HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY.

THE ORIGINAL FORT NISQUALLY

WAS THE VERY FIRST EUROPEAN
SETTLEMENT ON PUGET SOUND,

BEFORE SEATTLE EXISTED.

IT WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH WALLS
AND GUARD TOWERS,

TO FEND OFF RAIDS
BY NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES

AND TO PROTECT THE THOUSANDS OF
BEAVER, RACCOON AND OTHER FURS

THAT WERE BUNDLED HERE FOR
EXPORT TO NEW YORK AND EUROPE.

THERE ARE TWO STRUCTURES
STANDING HERE

FROM THE ORIGINAL FORT.

THIS ONE, THE GRANARY,
IS THE OLDEST BUILDING

IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

♪

WHEN FORT NISQUALLY WAS FOUNDED,

THE FUTURE SITE OF SEATTLE STILL
LAY IN DISPUTED TERRITORY.

BUT IN 1846,
THE U.S. AND BRITAIN

RESOLVED THEIR BOUNDARY DISPUTE
BY SIGNING A NEW TREATY.

IT ESTABLISHED A BOUNDARY
AT THE 49th PARALLEL,

WHICH IS NOW THE BORDER BETWEEN
THE U.S. AND CANADA.

ONCE THAT TREATY WAS SIGNED,

A FLOOD OF AMERICAN SETTLERS
AND OTHERS

STARTED POURING INTO THE REGION,

AND THAT’S WHEN SETTLEMENT
OF SEATTLE REALLY KICKED OFF.

ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS
WAS LOCATED HERE, AT ALKI POINT,

WHICH IS NOW IN WEST SEATTLE.

IT’S HOME TO ONE OF THE CITY’S
MOST POPULAR BEACHES.

BUT WHEN THE DENNY PARTY ARRIVED

ON THIS THEN-WILD STRETCH
OF COAST IN THE FALL OF 1851,

SKUNKS RAIDED THEIR FOOD STORES,

AND A WINTER OF COLD RAIN
WITHOUT ADEQUATE SHELTER

SOON DROVE
THE EARLY SETTLERS AWAY.

BY THE NEXT SPRING,
THEY HAD ALREADY MOVED EAST

AND LAID CLAIM TO LAND
ALONG THE BAY

THAT NOW LIES
IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.

AT THE TIME,
TOWERING ANCIENT TREES,

SOME MORE THAN 1,000 YEARS OLD,
BLANKETED SEATTLE’S HILLS.

TODAY, ON THE SHORES
OF LAKE WASHINGTON,

IT’S STILL POSSIBLE TO IMAGINE

WHAT THIS LAND MUST HAVE LOOKED
LIKE IN THE EARLY 1800s.

THIS PROTECTED PENINSULA, ON THE
WEST SIDE OF LAKE WASHINGTON,

IS HOME TO WHAT’S KNOWN
AS THE MAGNIFICENT FOREST.

IT’S THE LARGEST STAND OF
OLD GROWTH TREES IN THE CITY,

MANY MORE THAN 200 YEARS OLD,

INCLUDING DOUGLAS FIR, HEMLOCK,
CEDAR, AND MAPLE.

IT’S LIKE A TIME CAPSULE
OF SEATTLE’S NATURAL PAST.

♪

THE REST OF THE CITY’S
OLD GROWTH TREES

DIDN’T LAST VERY LONG

BECAUSE WORD QUICKLY SPREAD
ABOUT THE REGION’S RICHES.

IN 1851, A MAN NAMED
HENRY YESLER

ARRIVED IN TOWN FROM OHIO

WITH A DREAM AND MONEY TO START
A STEAM-POWERED SAWMILL.

HE BUILT IT HERE
ON THE SEATTLE WATERFRONT.

TO GET NEWLY CUT LOGS FROM
HIS TIMBER CLAIM TO HIS MILL,

HE ROLLED THEM DOWNHILL
ALONG A PATH

THAT CAME TO BE KNOWN
AS "SKID ROAD."

THAT PATH IS NOW A CITY STREET
CALLED YESLER WAY,

NAMED IN
THE LUMBER BARON’S HONOR.

BY 1852, ONE SETTLER HERE,

A MAN WHO WAS KNOWN
SIMPLY AS DOC MAYNARD,

IS SAID TO HAVE CONVINCED THE
OTHERS TO NAME THEIR NEW TOWN

AFTER A LOCAL NATIVE AMERICAN
LEADER, CHIEF SEATTLE.

AND THAT’S HOW SEATTLE WAS BORN.

EVERY YEAR, MEMBERS
OF THE SUQUAMISH TRIBE,

WHO LIVE ALONG PUGET SOUND,

CELEBRATE THEIR FORMER CHIEF
WITH A THREE-DAY FESTIVAL

KNOWN AS CHIEF SEATTLE DAYS.

DURING THIS FESTIVAL,
YOUNG SUQUAMISH RACE WAR CANOES,

AS THEY TEST THEIR PROWESS
ON THE WATER,

AND CELEBRATE THE TRADITIONS
AND SKILLS OF THEIR ANCESTORS.

AS THE SETTLEMENT
OF SEATTLE GREW,

SO, TOO, DID THE BUSINESS
OF TIMBER,

WHICH DISPLACED
MANY NATIVE AMERICANS

FROM THEIR LAND.

TODAY, TIMBER REMAINS BIG
BUSINESS IN WASHINGTON STATE.

JUST A FEW MILES
NORTHWEST OF SEATTLE,

A THICK FOG HAS SETTLED IN
OVER PUGET SOUND.

BUT DOWN BELOW, A TUGBOAT
IS STEADILY ON THE MOVE.

IT’S NOT PUSHING A BARGE,
OR GUIDING A GIANT CRUISE SHIP;

IT’S DOING SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN
DONE IN THE WATERS OFF SEATTLE

FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY--

TOWING AN ENORMOUS RAFT
OF RAW TIMBER

FROM FORESTS WHERE THEY WERE CUT

TO MARKETS WHERE
THEY WILL BE SOLD.

THIS LOAD IS ON ITS WAY
TO THE PORT OF EVERETT,

NORTH OF SEATTLE.

ONCE, GIANT LOG PULLS
LIKE THIS ONE

WERE A COMMON SIGHT
IN THESE WATERWAYS.

BUT THIS IS THE ONLY
TUG OPERATOR

WHO STILL DOES THIS WORK HERE.

IN DAYS PAST, LOG TOWS
WERE TARGETS FOR PIRATES

AND LUMBER THIEVES WHO RAIDED
THE TOWS, BROKE THEM UP,

AND THEN HID THE STOLEN LOGS

IN THE MANY BAYS AND INLETS
ALONG THE SOUND.

THEY WERE EASY TARGETS, BECAUSE
LOG RAFTS DON’T MOVE FAST.

THIS ONE IS TRAVELING
AT JUST ONE TO TWO KNOTS.

BUT IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN
ABOUT 150 TRAILER TRUCKS

TO MOVE THIS LOAD
ON THE HIGHWAY.

♪

LOG RAFTS IN PUGET SOUND
OFTEN END UP HERE,

AT THE PORT OF EVERETT.

ONCE THE LOGS ARE
BROUGHT ON SHORE,

THEY ARE LOADED INTO
A GIANT STRIPPER,

TO CLEAN OFF THE BARK.

WASHINGTON STATE IS THE SECOND
LARGEST TIMBER PRODUCER

IN THE NATION.

THERE ARE LOTS OF MILLS LIKE
THIS ONE ALL AROUND SEATTLE

THAT PROCESS RAW LOGS

AND THEN SLICE THEM
INTO STANDARDIZED LUMBER.

WOOD DUST IS ALSO
BIG BUSINESS HERE.

AFTER BEING LOADED ONTO TRUCKS,

IT WILL BE USED TO
MAKE PULP AND PAPER.

THE MACHINES USED
FOR LOGGING AND LUMBER

MAY HAVE CHANGED A LOT
OVER THE LAST CENTURY,

BUT MAKING A LIVING IN TIMBER
HAS BEEN A WAY OF LIFE

IN AND AROUND SEATTLE
EVER SINCE THE CITY WAS FOUNDED.

AND IT WAS A 19th CENTURY
TIMBER FORTUNE

THAT TURNED SEATTLE INTO
A 20th CENTURY AEROSPACE GIANT.

JUST SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN LIES
THE RUNWAY OF BOEING FIELD,

AN AIRPORT NAMED AFTER
A WEALTHY SEATTLE LUMBERMAN

NAMED WILLIAM E. BOEING.

AS SOON AS HE TOOK
HIS FIRST AIRPLANE RIDE

IN A BARNSTORMER IN 1915,

BOEING FELL IN LOVE WITH FLIGHT

AND DECIDED TO USE
HIS LUMBER FORTUNE

TO DESIGN AND BUILD AIRPLANES.

HIS VERY FIRST PLANE,
A SINGLE-ENGINE SEAPLANE,

LIFTED OFF INTO THE SKIES
OVER SEATTLE ON JUNE 15, 1916.

HE LAUNCHED THE BOEING AIRPLANE
COMPANY THAT SAME YEAR,

IN THIS RED BARN.

IT NOW SERVES AS THE HEART
OF THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT,

WHICH LIES ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE
OF BOEING FIELD.

THIS MUSEUM,
WHICH IS AN AFFILIATE

OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,

HAS THE LARGEST DISPLAY
OF BOEING PLANES IN THE WORLD,

INCLUDING THE COMPANY’S
FIRST-EVER 747,

WITH SERIAL NUMBER 001.

DURING THE YEARS
LEADING UP TO WORLD WAR II,

BOEING’S BUSINESS,
AND SEATTLE, BOOMED

AS THE COMPANY RACED TO BUILD

THOUSANDS OF NEW MILITARY
AND PASSENGER PLANES.

BUT THAT BOOM ALSO LED
TO A SHORTAGE OF HOUSING.

MANY WORKERS ENDED UP LIVING
ON MAKESHIFT HOUSEBOATS

ALONG THE SHORES OF SEATTLE’S
LAKES AND RIVERS

JUST AS TIMBER WORKERS,
FISHERMAN AND OTHERS HAD DONE

FOR DECADES BEFORE THEM.

BY THE 1930s THERE WERE
CLOSE TO 2,000 HOUSEBOATS

IN THE WATERWAYS AROUND SEATTLE.

TODAY, JUST A FEW COLONIES,
LIKE THESE ON LAKE UNION,

ARE THE LAST SURVIVORS.

WHEN MANY PEOPLE
THINK OF SEATTLE,

THEY THINK OF THESE HOUSEBOATS,

THANKS TO THE 1993 ROMANTIC
COMEDY "SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE"

STARRING TOM HANKS AND MEG RYAN.

IN THE MOVIE, HANKS LIVES WITH
HIS SON JONAH IN A HOUSEBOAT

THAT’S STILL DOCKED HERE,
ON THE WEST SIDE OF LAKE UNION.

BUT THE DAYS
OF CHEAP FLOATING SHACKS

THAT ONCE CROWDED THESE SHORES
ARE LONG GONE.

THE CITY’S TECH BOOM
AND FLOOD OF FOREIGN BUYERS

HAS CREATED A NEW SHORTAGE
OF HOUSING IN SEATTLE.

TODAY, THIS CITY HAS SOME
OF THE FASTEST-RISING

REAL ESTATE PRICES
IN THE NATION.

MANY OF LAKE UNION’S HOUSEBOATS
HAVE BECOME LUXURY HOMES

AND SELL FOR MILLIONS.

WHEN YOU SPEND 24 HOURS
IN THE SKIES OVER SEATTLE,

YOU DISCOVER ALL THE WAYS THAT
SEATTLEITES USE THE WATERS

THAT SURROUND THEIR CITY
EVERY DAY.

WHETHER THEY’RE TRAINING
ON ITS CANALS,

PADDLING ALONG ITS SHORES,

OR EVEN SKIMMING ACROSS
THE WATERS OF ITS LAKES.

ONE SEATTLEITE WHO IS OUT
ON THE WATER EVERY SINGLE DAY

IS PILOT ANNA GULLICKSON.

IT’S 4:00 P.M., AND SHE’S JUST
PREPARING TO TAKE OFF

FROM A SMALL FLOAT PLANE BASE

HERE AT ROCHE HARBOR
ON SAN JUAN ISLAND.

ANNA SPENDS MOST OF HER WORKDAY
SHUTTLING RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS

BETWEEN THE CITY AND ISLANDS,
LIKE THIS ONE.

PEOPLE IN SEATTLE KNOW
IT’S HER OVERHEAD

THANKS TO THE UNIQUE PAINT JOB
ON HER PLANE.

WHEN ANNA FLIES, SHE SOMETIMES
SPOTS PODS OF ORCAS,

ALSO KNOWN AS KILLER WHALES,
IN THE WATERS BELOW.

THIS SPECIES HAS BEEN
AT GREATER AND GREATER RISK HERE

AROUND THE SAN JUANS.

FEARFUL THAT THESE WHALES
MIGHT ONE DAY BE GONE FOREVER,

ANNA RAISED MONEY
TO REPAINT THIS PLANE

WITH THE SIGNATURE
PATTERNING OF AN ORCA,

TO ADVERTISE ITS PLIGHT.

NOW, EVERY TIME SHE COMES IN
FOR A LANDING OVER SEATTLE,

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
ON THE STREETS, WATER,

AND BUILDINGS BELOW,

LOOK UP AND SEE THIS ORCA
OF THE SKY PASSING OVERHEAD

BEFORE SHE MAKES HER WAY
TO THE DOCK OF KENMORE AIR

ON LAKE UNION.

WHEN SEATTLE WAS FIRST SETTLED,

LAKE UNION WAS CALLED
"SMALL WATER"

BY A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE
KNOWN AS THE DUWAMISH,

WHO LIVED ON THE SHORES
OF THE LAKE.

BUT IN 1854, AN EARLY SEATTLE
SETTLER NAMED THOMAS MERCER

PROPOSED RENAMING IT
"LAKE UNION" INSTEAD.

HE CAME UP WITH THAT NAME

BECAUSE HE IMAGINED THAT
SEATTLE’S LAKES AND BAYS

WOULD ALL ONE DAY BE CONNECTED
TO EACH OTHER, AND PUGET SOUND,

BY CANALS.

MERCER’S VISION
ENDED UP COMING TRUE,

BUT IT TOOK MORE THAN
HALF A CENTURY.

WHAT FINALLY UNITED
SEATTLE’S WATERWAYS

WAS A MAJOR WORK
OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

KNOWN AS THE LAKE WASHINGTON
SHIP CANAL,

AND ITS GIANT CHITTENDEN LOCKS.

THESE DAYS, BOATERS FROM ACROSS
SEATTLE PASS THROUGH THESE LOCKS

ALL DAY LONG IN THE SUMMER
TO SPEND A DAY OUT ON THE SOUND.

FISHING CAPTAINS ALSO
USE THE LOCKS

TO GET THEIR SHIPS TO AND FROM
FISHERMEN’S TERMINAL,

HERE JUST INSIDE SALMON BAY.

IN THE WINTER MONTHS,
THIS FRESHWATER MARINA

IS PACKED WITH UP TO 400
COMMERCIAL FISHING BOATS.

BUT WHEN SUMMER ARRIVES, ALMOST
ALL OF SEATTLE’S FISHERMEN

HEAD UP TO THE RICH AND FAMOUSLY
DANGEROUS WATERS OF ALASKA

TO HUNT FOR SALMON AND POLLOCK.

A STATUE HERE AT THE TERMINAL

HONORS THE NEARLY 700
SEATTLE FISHERMEN

WHO NEVER RETURNED
FROM THOSE JOURNEYS.

THIS FRESHWATER HARBOR DIDN’T
EXIST IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY,

BECAUSE SEATTLE’S LAKES AND BAYS
WERE STILL ALL LANDLOCKED.

IT TOOK A MASSIVE PROJECT BY
THE U.S. ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS

TO LINK THESE WATERWAYS.

FIRST, THEY CONNECTED
LAKE WASHINGTON

WITH PORTAGE BAY, IN LAKE UNION,

BY CARVING A DEEP CHANNEL
THAT IS KNOWN AS MONTLAKE CUT.

THEY ALSO EXCAVATED
ANOTHER MASSIVE CHANNEL,

CALLED FREMONT CUT,
TO LINK LAKE UNION

WITH A SMALL, SALTWATER INLET
KNOWN AS SALMON BAY.

FINALLY, THEY HAD TO INSTALL
A COLOSSAL SET OF LOCKS

AT THE ENTRANCE TO PUGET SOUND,

SINCE THE FRESHWATER
IN THE LAKES

WAS MORE THAN 20 FEET HIGHER
THAN THE WATER IN THE SOUND.

THESE LOCKS HAD TO BE
SPECIALLY DESIGNED

TO KEEP SEATTLE’S FRESHWATER
LAKES FROM BEING CONTAMINATED

WITH SALTY SEAWATER
WHEN THEY OPEN AND CLOSE.

MANY PEOPLE USE THEM AS A BRIDGE

TO GET ACROSS THE SHIP CANAL
ON FOOT.

TODAY, IT WOULD BE HARD TO
IMAGINE DAILY LIFE IN SEATTLE

WITHOUT THE LAKE WASHINGTON
SHIP CANAL.

♪

IT WOULD ALSO BE HARD,
IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE,

TO THINK OF SUMMER NIGHTS HERE

WITHOUT A WEEKLY EVENT
KNOWN AS DUCK DODGE.

IT’S ALMOST 7:00 P.M., AND
THE SAILS ARE UP ON LAKE UNION.

EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT
IN THE SUMMER,

SEATTLE BOATERS GATHER
BY THE HUNDREDS

TO RACE A ZIGZAG COURSE
AROUND THE LAKE.

ANY SIZED VESSEL CAN COMPETE,

BUT ALL DUCK DODGE SAILORS HAVE
TO FOLLOW 12 VERY STRICT RULES.

IT’S FORBIDDEN TO RUN
INTO ANOTHER BOAT.

YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO BRIBE
THE DUCK DODGE COMMITTEE...

AT LEAST WHILE ANYONE
IS WATCHING.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP ALL BUOYS
TO THE PORT SIDE

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR TURNS.

RULE NUMBER 10 IS THAT SAILORS
HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THE RULES.

AND RULE NUMBER 12 SAYS

THAT YOU MAY NEVER MAKE A DUCK
CHANGE ITS COURSE.

IF A DUCK ON LAKE UNION
GETS IN YOUR WAY,

IT’S UP TO YOU TO DODGE IT.

THAT’S HOW DUCK DODGE
GOT ITS NAME.

THIS RACE HAS BEEN
A SEATTLE TRADITION

FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

WHEN IT BEGAN IN 1974,

IT WAS ADVERTISED AS
THE LAKE UNION BEER CAN REGATTA.

TODAY, THAT SPIRIT
STILL LIVES ON.

WHILE SOME CLAIM
THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE,

DUCK DODGE IS REALLY JUST
A CHANCE FOR SEATTLEITES

TO GET OUT ON THE WATER,
SEE FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

AND HAVE SOME FUN.

AND MAYBE THAT’S WHY
IT’S HARD TO TELL

IF ANYONE IS ACTUALLY RACING.

BUT IT ALWAYS DRAWS
A LARGE CROWD ON SHORE.

THEY FILL THE LAKESIDE LAWN
HERE AT GAS WORKS PARK.

ON WARM SUMMER NIGHTS,

WHEN THE SKIES OVER THIS
FAMOUSLY RAINY CITY ARE CLEAR,

IT CAN SEEM LIKE ALL OF SEATTLE
IS OUTDOORS.

AFTER RACING IS OVER

AND THE DUCK DODGE COMMITTEE HAS
ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK’S WINNERS,

THE REAL PARTYING WILL BEGIN.

AS THE SUN STARTS TO SET,

MANY WORKERS IN SEATTLE

WILL ALREADY BE
WINDING DOWN THEIR DAY,

JUST AS THEY STARTED IT,

ON THE FERRIES
THAT CROSS ELLIOTT BAY.

AND ON SHORE, AS NIGHT FALLS,

THERE’S NO PLACE IN SEATTLE
AS COLORFUL OR STRANGE AS THIS.

IT’S A GARDEN OF GLASS

THAT LIES RIGHT AT THE BASE
OF THE SPACE NEEDLE.

THE ARTIST WHO CREATED
THESE PHOTOGENIC FORMS

IS A SEATTLE LEGEND NAMED
DALE CHIHULY.

SINCE THE 1960s HE’S BEEN
PIONEERING NEW TECHNIQUES

FOR BLOWING GLASS

THAT HAVE ENABLED HIM AND HIS
STUDIO STAFF HERE IN SEATTLE

TO CREATE A MINDBOGGLING
ARRAY OF FORMS.

HIS SCULPTURES HAVE MADE HIM
FAMOUS AROUND THE WORLD,

FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
TO LAS VEGAS AND DUBAI.

CHIHULY’S WORK IS KNOWN FOR
ITS DELICATE, PLANT-LIKE SHAPES,

WHICH IS WHY
IT’S PERFECTLY SUITED

FOR A GARDEN LIKE THIS ONE.

INSIDE THE GARDEN’S GLASS HOUSE,

SHAPES OF RED AND ORANGE
MAKE UP A SCULPTURE

THAT’S MORE THAN 100 FEET LONG.

BUT PART OF THE WONDER OF THIS
GARDEN IS BEING ABLE TO WATCH

THE COLORS OF THE SCULPTURES
CHANGE

AS THE SUNLIGHT FADES
FROM THE NIGHT SKY.

♪

[SEAGULL SQUAWKING]

BUT EVERY NIGHT,

THERE ARE OTHER COLORFUL LIGHTS
IN THIS CITY, TOO.

ESPECIALLY HERE ON SEATTLE’S
HISTORIC WATERFRONT.

ONCE, CROWDED SHIPS BOUND
FOR THE KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH

CROWDED THESE DOCKS.

TODAY, SEATTLE’S GREAT WHEEL
CAN BE SEEN FROM MILES AWAY.

BUT SEATTLE’S MOST FAMILIAR
AND LEGENDARY LIGHT

MIGHT JUST BE THIS ONE--

A COLORFUL GLOBE THAT’S BEEN
SPINNING OVER THE CITY

SINCE 1948.

IT WAS CREATED TO ADVERTISE
THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER,

THE CITY’S OLDEST NEWSPAPER.

WHEN THE P-I PRINTED
ITS LAST EDITION

BEFORE GOING ENTIRELY ONLINE
IN 2009,

IT SPLASHED A PHOTO OF ITS GLOBE
ACROSS ITS FINAL FRONT PAGE

WITH THE HEADLINE,
"YOU’VE MEANT THE WORLD TO US."

♪

PEERING DOWN ON A DAY
IN THE LIFE OF SEATTLE

IS A FEAST FOR THE EYES.

BUT IT’S ALSO A CHANCE
TO DISCOVER WHY THIS CITY

IS ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT
IN THE NATION.

WHETHER SEATTLEITES ARE CHEERING
ON THEIR FAVORITE TEAMS...

RACING ON ITS LAKES...

OR EVEN BRAVING
TERRIFYING HEIGHTS

TO MAKE SURE THEIR CITY
KEEPS RUNNING 24/7.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF SEATTLE

TRULY IS UNLIKE A DAY
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD!

♪

♪

♪