From salmon fishing to oysters on the half-shell; from lumber barons to celebrity chefs; and from beer halls to craft cocktails, Ballard has evolved from a gritty Scandinavian town of fishermen and mill workers to a vibrant urban village of upscale restaurants, music venues, and residential developments. Learn how the emergence of the automobile and shifting tastes toward wider boulevards saved old-town Ballard Avenue — a snapshot of small-town commercial architecture from the 1890s through the 1940s. See Ballard move further into the future, as you learn about Ballard’s master plan and view how the plan is playing out in modern civic and private development.

This tour begins at the Bell Tower Monument on the northeast corner of Ballard Avenue NW and 22nd Avenue NW in the Ballard Avenue Landmark District.