History of Seattle: Past and Now

Venue spotlight: The Crocodile Cafe

Opened by Stephanie Dorgan and Peter Buck (R.E.M., Minus, Filthy Animals) as the "Crocodile Cafe" on April 30, 1991, showcasing national and local bands including Death Cab For Cutie, Nirvana, R.E.M., Mudhoney, Juliana Hatfield, The Head and The Heart, and The Indigo Girls.

Over the decades, The Crocodile Cafe closed briefly in December 2007 and reopened as The Crocodile on March 21, 2009. In 2020, the partnership of The Crocodile secured a 20-year lease on the 30,000 square-foot Belltown building.

From Capitol Hill, from the 1950s to the early 1990s, the lodge was also home to the Trade Winds restaurant & Palm Room nightclub/piano bar. In 1996, it became El Gaucho (relocated to Western & Blanchard) & Pampas Room. In 2021, The Crocodile relocated to the former site of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific lodge, 2505 1st Avenue, four blocks away from its original location (2200 2nd Avenue).

The last show I attended at the current venue was Fishbone Red Hot Holiday Tour with Bite Me Bambi and Strawberry Fuzz in 2024. What events or bands have you seen at The Croc?

Images: 2nd Ave location of The Crocodile Cafe (now The Crocodile, aka The Croc). 35mm circa 2007, taken by me. Trade Winds restaurant & Palm Room nightclub/piano bar https://tikicentral.com/

Shared from Scarecrow Video

We just bought our longtime building on Roosevelt Way!

Purchasing our forever home marks an exciting and transformative turning point for our physical media library and Seattle’s creative ecosystem! In an era when arts and cultural spaces are routinely priced-out of the cities they help to define, acquiring our building represents long-term stability, preservation and renewed possibility.
We still have a long journey ahead to pay-off the financing and further invest in critical improvements that make our library and public programming more engaging, diverse and accessible to everyone. But we’re absolutely thrilled that we can now act from a place of security, with profound gratitude to our community to be able to stay—and grow—in this beloved place we call home!
We cannot wait to share more exciting updates with you in the months ahead!

To see our full press release, check out our b!o 🔗

We just bought our longtime building on Roosevelt Way!

Purchasing our forever home marks an exciting and transformative turning point for our physical media library and Seattle’s creative ecosystem! In an era when arts and cultural spaces are routinely priced-out of the cities they help to define, acquiring our building represents long-term stability, preservation and renewed possibility.
We still have a long journey ahead to pay-off the financing and further invest in critical improvements that make our library and public programming more engaging, diverse and accessible to everyone. But we’re absolutely thrilled that we can now act from a place of security, with profound gratitude to our community to be able to stay—and grow—in this beloved place we call home!
We cannot wait to share more exciting updates with you in the months ahead!

To see our full press release, check out our b!o 🔗

Thank you for following History of Seattle. We really appreciate everyone’s engagement and support of this passion project.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more: • “Then & Now” location stories • Themed series like Lost Venues, ’90s music, and movie locations

Stay tuned—and let me know in the comments what you’d love to see more of.

On November 8, 1961, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made a rare visit to Seattle. He delivered compelling speeches at the University of Washington and Temple de Hirsch on November 9, followed by stops at Garfield High School and the Eagles Auditorium on November 10. The city warmly welcomed him with a heartfelt reception at Plymouth Congregational Church. *image courtesy of The Washington State Historical Society https://www.washingtonhistory.org/exhibit/mlk-online/

Why is White Center is sometimes referred to as "Rat City"? There are 2 origin stories on the nickname.

During World War II, White Center was one of the areas where people looked for housing, and locals rented out attics, basements, garages, tents, and chicken coops to newcomers. As Seattle, became over populated with the War Industry boom. With this town’s moniker became popular.

Origin 1) The wartime military establishment was called the Reserve Army Training Center (also referred to as Recruitment and Training Center). 2) The center was designate an area out-of-bounds for servicemen called Restricted Alcohol Territory.

What other origin stories you heard on how Rat City got its name?

Seahawks advance with the defeat of SF 49ers! Do you have a favorite seahawks memory from the 50 years of the franchise?

After nearly 50 years of memories, Wild Waves Theme Park in Federal Way will close its doors for good: https://www.king5.com/article/money/business/wild-waves-theme-park-federal-way-announces-closure/281-b05285fe-67cd-4838-9ecf-d022d77f6251?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KING_5

Another local venue saying goodbye 😞

Update: not closing! Slim’s will remain open! For
more details: https://whitecenternow.com/2026/02/01/music-tims-x-slims-white-centers-tims-tavern-takes-on-operation-of-slims-last-chance-in-sodo/

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the end of Slim’s Last Chance in Seattle. We are moving to California. You have until Feb 20th to enjoy the chili and say goodbye. Michael & I have been honored to serve Seattle and loved every minute of building and running Slim’s Last Chance and Pig Iron Barbecue. Come n’ Git the remaining shirts and stickers while we still have them! If you are interested in playing Slim’s anytime leading up to our closure please reach out. We have dates open and would love to have you!