Seattle, WA

Seattle's King Street Station was constructed in 1906 by the Great Northern Railway and was designed by the firm of Reed and Stem which was just then beginning its involvement in the reconstruction of New York’s Grand Central Terminal. Composed of granite and red brick with terra cotta and cast-stone ornamentation, King Street Station was part of a larger project that moved the main line away from the waterfront and into a 5,245-foot tunnel under downtown. The distinctive clock tower—the tallest structure in town upon completion—was inspired by the campanile on Venice’s Piazza San Marco and remains a beloved local landmark. 

In the late 1960s, the station’s interior was modernized and simplified to satisfy contemporary aesthetics. The ornately sculpted plaster ceiling in the waiting room was hidden by a plain drop ceiling, tall windows were covered up, the chandeliers were replaced by fluorescent lighting, and plastic laminate was put over the marble wainscoting. 

A generation later, renovations were planned with the intention of returning the station to its original appearance. One of the highlights of the work was the rehabilitation of the Compass Room at the base of the tower. The space takes its name from the floor design which features a navigational compass star laid out in hand cut marble tiles. In December 2006, the Seattle City Council formalized an agreement to purchase the station from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. With financial support from federal, state, and city governments and Amtrak, the station continues to undergo a phased, multi-million dollar rehabilitation. 

First permanently settled by European-Americans in 1851, Seattle quickly grew as a lumber supply point for cities along the West Coast. A major fire in 1889 wiped out much of downtown, but the city boomed during the 1890s as prospectors in search of Yukon gold loaded up on supplies and provisions for the hard journey northward. The deep waters of Elliott Bay fostered a shipbuilding industry that prospered in war time; military spending also helped establish an airplane manufacturing sector.

During the 20^th century, Seattle positioned itself as a major force in the economic and cultural interchange of the Pacific Rim community, and today it towers as a leader in the computer and biotechnology fields. To non-residents, the city is probably best known for its drizzly winter days, coffee-centric café culture, and verdant natural landscapes that include lush forests, waterways, lakes, and majestic mountain peaks.

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In cooperation with the National Park Service, a limited edition National Parks Passport Cancellation Stamp has been created with the Amtrak 40th Anniversary Exhibit Train.  The cancellation stamp will be available for one year and only at select stops along the tour—such as this one.   Collectors will appreciate this cancellation stamp as a unique addition to their National Park Service passport. For more information on the National Park Service Passport Cancellation program.