Seattle: An Unforgettable City(a)

Seattle: An Unforgettable City

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

Seattle's long history has given it a strong place in the past, present, and the future.

The Emerald City, the 206, and Rain City are all nicknames for Seattle, Washington on the northwestern coast of the US. The first Europeans, who created the settlement that would eventually grow into present-day Seattle, arrived in the mid-1800s. The city got its name from Chief Seattle, a prominent figure in the local Duwamish Indian tribe who had a friendly relationship with the settlers.

Seattle was a prominent city at different stages of its development for different reasons. Logging was its first major industry until influences by the Klondike Gold Rush changed the city's focus to shipping and shipbuilding. It took on the reputation of being the gateway to Alaska and its port industry grew steadily. The Great Depression wrecked Seattle's economy, but World War II and Boeing's advancements in aviation put Seattle back on the map. Since then, Seattle has been a center for technology, green-living practices, and sustainable development.

Tourism is another reason Seattle has gotten a fair amount of attention. Olympic Sculpture Park is a large outdoor art park and beach created in 2007. It features permanent and visiting exhibits and is an important green space in downtown Seattle. At Pier 59 on the waterfront, the Seattle Aquarium is a conservation institution and works to educate the public about the human impact on marine life. Its exhibits include fish, sea birds, marine mammals, and touch pools for visitors to interact with and learn about aquatic life. The Bite of Seattle is an annual food festival that includes samples from local restaurants, eating competitions, new food vendors, and cook-offs. Another one of Seattle's claims to fame is being the birthplace of the famed Starbucks coffee shop.

翡翠之城、206（西雅图市的长途电话区域码）和雨都这些都是位在美国西北海岸华盛顿州西雅图市的别名。19世纪中叶最初抵达的欧洲人，就在此创建了新的居住地，最终演变为现今的西雅图。这座城市的名字取之于一位名叫西雅图的酋长，他是当地杜瓦米许（Duwamish）印第安部落的著名人物，他与垦荒者有不错的友谊关系。

基于不同原因，西雅图在不同的发展时期都是个重要的都市。伐木业是该城市的第一大产业，直到受克隆底克（Klondike）淘金热的影响，该城市的重心才转变成了航运业及造船业。西雅图市具有通往阿拉斯加门户的声誉，其港口产业也稳定成长。经济大萧条重创了西雅图市的经济，但是二次世界大战和波音公司在航空业上的进展又再次让西雅图闻名。从那时起，西雅图就一直是技术发展、绿生活的实践及永续发展的中心。

旅游业则是西雅图获得相当关注的另一项原因。奥林匹克雕塑公园是大型的室外艺术海滩公园，创建于 2007 年。该公园的特色是馆内展出常设及巡回展览品，该处是西雅图市中心很重要的绿色空间。海滨的 59 号码头上有一座西雅图水族馆，该水族馆是保育机构，致力于教育大众关于人类对海洋生物的影向。其展出的动物包含了鱼类、海鸟、海生哺乳类，另外还有触摸池，以供游客与水栖生物互动并多加了解牠们。一年一度的西雅图美食节包含当地餐馆的试吃品、竞食比赛、新的食物摊贩和烹饪大赛。另一个让西雅图出名的原因就是该城市是著名星巴克咖啡的发源地。