Just imagine…
A city wiped out by apocalyptic fire.
The survivors rebuild atop its ruins.
For decades, the old city hides quietly beneath the new, no more than an urban legend to modern generations.
Toss in a few mutants and you’ve got James Cameron’s next 3-D sci-fi extravaganza.
But I’m talking about the real deal here — Seattle, Washington.
Fact is, after fire destroyed some 24 square blocks of downtown in 1889, citizens built retaining walls and hoisted an all-new Seattle above the soggy tideflats to avoid old flooding and sewage problems.
This left the original sidewalks and building entrances underground and forgotten — until restoration of historic Pioneer Square began in the 1960s.
Just last week, Deb and I took a tour of Seattle’s surreal subterranean city. We walked through dark passageways that squirm underneath busy modern-day sidewalks and past crumbling 19th century doorways and signage. We got a fascinating history lesson.
And yes, I discovered a business lesson there, too. (Actually, I found three, but I’m only gonna bug you with one of ‘em today. You’re welcome.)
Here’s the deal…
A whole crapload of historic treasure lay unexplored, untapped, and
unexploited below Seattle for more than 60 years.
Then a journalist slash columnist slash humorist slash PR dude slash historical preservationist named Bill Speidel decided to spearhead a
campaign to save deteriorating Pioneer Square from the wrecking ball.
Speidel did that by diligently researching the city’s past. And that’s how he discovered the buried ruins of early Seattle.
The result?
Well, for one thing, the old neighborhood was designated an historic district.
For another, Speidel became an entrepreneur. He wrote bestselling books about the city, became a sought-after lecturer, and founded the popular guided walking tour of Seattle’s underground that we enjoyed so much last Tuesday.
So I’ve got a couple of questions for you:
First, like the remnants of old Seattle, what treasures — wisdom, knowledge, ideas, contacts — lie unexplored, untapped, and unexploited inside of you?
And second, when are you gonna take advantage of them?
Just wondering.
(Hey, you might even offer your “treasures” to others for a tidy profit. For more info on how to do just that, drop by http://www.wallyconger.com/fearlessfreelancing.html.)
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As a belated P.S., I should mention that the very first I heard about the Seattle undergorund came from a 1973 TV movie, “The Night Strangler,” starring Darrin MacGavin as ace reporter Carl Kolchak. In the film, Kolchak traced a series of murders to the ruins beneath Seattle. Actual footage from one of the tours was even used. The movie’s worth a look.
It was interesting reading this. I used to live in Seattle, in the early to mid seventies. I remember taking that tour, starting at the Blue Banjo, I think it was, in Pioneer Square. At one of the museums, I later saw the gluepot that was said to have started the whole fire. In the spirit of your metaphor, I suppose some of us have to watch out for potential “gluepots” that could burn down our marketing efforts, too, such as ever changing laws and regulations to keep up with, or letting friends or family talk us out of doing what we feel driven to do. I didn’t realize the movie “The Night Strangler” had references to or footage from Underground Seattle. Thanks for the post.
LOVE the gluepot metaphor, Andrea!
The tour now begins in Pioneer Square at an old saloon called Doc Maynard’s. It might be the same spot, just renamed.
Oh, and “The Night Strangler” is available on DVD.