Situated on the shore of the sparkling Elliott Bay, and overlooked by the mighty Mount Rainier, Seattle enjoys a magnificent setting and boasts much to offer the visitor. The city's major development began in 1851, when a party led by Luther Collins formally claimed the land around Alki Point. After successive floods, the town relocated to what is now Pioneer Square the following year. The acres of forest surrounding Seattle were then felled as the growing lumber industry fuelled the town's growth. The Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 cemented Seattle's status as one of the USA's primary transport and commercial hubs.
Since then, more recent success stories include Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks and Amazon.com, who all began in the city and have headquarters here. Seattle's music scene is also renowned, for its jazz and as the birthplace of grunge. As befitting a city with such a long period of prosperity, Seattle is packed with things to see and do and makes for a memorable visit during your rail tour.