Demise of Railroad Avenue : Construction of the Alaskan Way Seawall 1973

Color and b/w; sound. Story of the construction of the Alaskan Way Seawall, incorporating footage from 1934-1935, includes 1973 shots of Seattle waterfront. Shots of signs for Olde Curiosity Shop, Polynesia Restaurant, Ivar's, Marine Aquarium. Narrated by Ward Collier. 1973.
Item 513, Record Series 2613-09, Seattle Municipal Archives

[@tonyf.8858]

My dad told us kids he would come into town and watch this wall being built when he was around 21 years old. He took a bus from Burien, 10 miles south.

[@MrWolfTickets]

I remember seeing the concrete handrails 14:00 when going to the aquarium for my 5th birthday in 1983. Before the new sea wall, I saw that they patched in some sections at a deleted pier, and did a really good job matching the details.

[@GaryR55]

So, there was an upgrade of the seawall after its construction?

[@MrWolfTickets]

@@GaryR55 I think it was totally replaced. There was a huge worksite that would do a section at a time all the way down Alaskan Way for a few years, maybe 10 years ago. I remember when the earthquake that ruined the Viaduct happened, there was a lot of talk about the old seawall failing in another big earthquake and Alaskan way basically dropping into the water. That and the prospect of getting squished in a Viaduct collapse were kind of a dark cloud over traveling down there for a good while.

[@DannyManny98]

Great video

[@GaryR55]

What does the date 1973 have to do with this? Clearly, the film depicts a project done in the 1940s(?) and the film isn't from 1973, either.

[@tonyf.8858]

It's when this documentary was produced. It was shown on PBS in that year.

[@GaryR55]

@@tonyf.8858 I see. Thanks.