The Seattle Traveler

At the foot of Pier 54, right next door to Ivar’s Acres of Clams, is one of the oddest, most compellingly weird shops that I have ever entered — Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.  It’s part museum, part store, and has been a part of Seattle history for over 107 years.

There’s a story behind the store, just as there’s a story behind the items in the store, and at the heart of it all is a man named Joseph Standley.  As a third grader, he won a prize for having the neatest desk.  The prize was a book about the wonders of nature, and it was to fuel an insatiable curiosity in the youngster.  Joseph began “collecting,” and became a serious student of ethnology. 

As a young man Joseph owned and operated a grocery store in Denver, and began bringing his “collections” into the store for his customers to view and enjoy.  After relocating to Seattle in 1899, Joseph turned his avocation into his vocation, and opened a small curio shop.  About a year later he name it Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe.  The shop’s slogan remains today as it was then – “Beats the Dickens” – a reference to Charles Dickens’ novel “The Old Curiosity Shop.”

Joseph was personable and well liked, and despite a tough start in business, he gradually expanded his collections.  Since its opening, the store has occupied a number of different locations, but has always called Seattle’s waterfront, home.  It has been at its Pier 54 location since 1988.

Some of those original artifacts remain as part of the store’s permanent collection, because the best-loved artifacts were never for sale.  I remember so many of these items vividly from visits during my childhood:  Sylvester (a perfectly preserved mummy), Siamese twin calves, shrunken heads, a grain of rice with the Lord’s Prayer engraved on it, a humongous snail, fleas in dresses, painting on the head of a pin, a nine foot blow gun, a beheading sword, and a mermaid (of questionable authenticity).

There is no admission charge for Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe, so don’t forget that the stores stays in business through its sales, both in store and online.  Here a sample listing of some of the inventory:  Northwest Indian totem poles, masks, artwork, and jewelry, Eskimo carvings and baskets, Russian lacquer boxes and matreshka dolls, copper and wooden postcards, music boxes, dolls, smoked salmon, local and world music, Viking helmets, Mexican jumping beans (another childhood favorite), Seattle souvenirs, and salt water taffy.

Location:  1001 Alaskan Way (Pier 54, next to Ivar’s Acres of Clams)

Hours:  Sunday-Thursday 10 am-6 pm, Friday-Saturday 9 am-9 pm.  Extended summer hours of 9 am-9:30 pm daily.

Photo credit:  flickr

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