Seattle Clock Walk Tells Perfect Time

Does anybody really know what time it is?

In Seattle you don’t even need a watch to answer that questions as you’ll find clocks all over the city, over 29 public clocks in the downtown area alone.  You can rely on the accuracy of these time keepers, as city municipal code requires all public clocks to be working and displaying the correct time.  If they aren’t?  Then they must be covered (for no more than 14 days) until they are fixed.  Seattle takes it time seriously!

You can spot all those clocks, and probably a few more, on the Seattle Clock Walk, a walking tour that gives you a look at our city’s clocks while also experiencing the sights and tastes of the city.

The self-guided Clock Walk starts at Union Station and ends at Belltown Billiards, with lots to see between those two points.  At a leisurely pace you should be able to walk from clock to clock and complete the tour in around 90 minutes, and you’ll have lots of clocks to make sure that you’re not late for you next appointment.

Of course, everyone will have their favorites, whether it’s the clock itself or its location.  The clock at the Pike Place Market (#27) is always a favorite, the one at King Street Station (#2) is a part of our history, and the one at Century Square (#23) is my favorite.  This is a peek at the history of the city, our businesses, and a lot of fun as well.

You can study up on Seattle’s history with a little photo tour online to complement your walking tour, as well as get information about those clocks outside of the downtown core.

Rob Ketcherside is the originator of the Clock Walk, and he says that he’s always on the look out for more clocks to add to the list.  In addition to the clock being public, he’s got just a few other requirements: it must be an analog clock. it must be outside, and it must be within the city limits

Photo credit: Seattle Municipal Archives via flickr