Downtown Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
‘Miike Maru’
Historical Point of Interest
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 13, 2011
1. ‘Miike Maru’ Marker
Erected 1968 by Yukon Club & Propeller Club – Port of Seattle.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 47° 36.402′ N, 122° 20.478′ W. Marker was in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It was in Downtown Seattle. It could be reached from Alaskan Way, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1300 Alaskan Way, Seattle WA 98101, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in Washington’s Puget Sound Region. It was also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it was in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Elliott Bay (about 600 feet away); First Avenue (about 700 feet away); "This Market Is Yours" (about 700 feet away); Developing the Market (approx. 0.2 miles away); Colonial Hotel
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. "Ton of Gold" (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Visit of President Theodore Roosevelt’s “Great White Fleet” (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Joshua Green (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); Waterfront History (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); Welcome to The Public Market (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. This marker, along with a number of other historical markers, were removed during the major "Waterfront Seattle" reconstruction project, which included replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct and seawall with a new park. The project began in 2013 with the seawall construction and tunnel boring. While significant portions opened throughout the early 2020s, the
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 13, 2011
2. ‘Miike Maru’ Marker
Also see . . . Japanese shipping firm begins regular run between Seattle and Japan on August 31, 1896. The Miike Maru steamed into a bay crowded with yachts, steamboats, and other boats. The Japanese steamship carried to Seattle a cargo of teas, silk goods, raw silk, camphor, curios, matting, soy oil, and paper. The vessel steamed away with lumber, flour, raw cotton, heavy hardware, fish, leather, nails, beer, wire, and tobacco. The exports went to Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, and Hong Kong. This was the first of many regular runs between Seattle and Japan by Nippon Yusen Kaisha steamships, including the ships Miike Maru, Yamaguchi Maru, Kinshui Maru, and Sakura Maru. (Submitted on May 26, 2025, by Luci j Baker Johnson of Seattle, Washington.)
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, February 20, 2026
3. Missing marker location
A panoramic view of the area where this marker was once located. The area is currently home to a large playground.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,127 times since then and 73 times this year. Last updated on February 23, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 9, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on February 23, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
