Seattle is known mostly for what’s aboveground: the Space Needle, coffee, Amazon, Microsoft, rain. But under the city right now, the world’s largest tunneling machine is churning through soil (and tweeting).

Seattle’s Epic Underground Scene and a Cool Pinball Museum

  • By Biz Carson
  • 11.15.13
  • 6:30 AM

Bertha | Earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel-boring machine | 57.5 feet tall | 326 feet long | 7,000 tons
$80 million cost (including delivery from Japan) | Follow: @berthadigssr99 | Photo: Courtesy of WSDOT

Seattle is known mostly for what’s aboveground: the Space Needle, coffee, Amazon, Microsoft, rain. But under the city right now, the world’s largest tunneling machine is churning through soil (and tweeting). Named after the city’s first female mayor, Bertha is making her way 1.8 miles through the soft ground to build a replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct, an earthquake-damaged freight cor­ridor. Project deputy administrator Matt Preedy describes Bertha’s giant head as a “rotational cheese grater” that bores through soil. Sadly, Bertha is hundreds of feet down and not on Instagram (yet). But street-level Seattle is pretty cool too.

SEE

(1) EMP  For the 50th anniver­sary of Doctor Who, this music, sci-fi, and pop-culture museum (formerly known as the Experi­ence Music Project) is dusting off a Cyberman from its archives for display in December. Frank Gehry’s trippy metal building alone is worth a visit.
(2) Living Computer Museum  Housing Paul Allen’s personal collection, the museum preserves and exhibits mile­stones in the evolution of compu­ters. All the vintage machines can be used.
(3) Central Public Library  The 11-story glass and steel Central Library looks like an art museum. Enjoy a spin up the ramp that spirals through the nonfiction collection, and take in the view of Elliott Bay from the 10th floor.

DO

(4) Seattle Pinball Museum  Play on classic machines dating back six decades. In December, the hybrid museum/arcade will exhibit machines built by local pinball enthusiasts.
(5) Pink Gorilla  The place to go for all your vintage gaming needs—anything from an Atari Asteroids cartridge for $2.99 to Little Samson, an original Nintendo release, for $550.
(6) Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery  This shop in Georgetown, Seattle’s historic arts community, specializes in rare and out-of-print comics and graphic novels as well as popular Fantagraphics artists like Daniel Clowes and the Hernandez Brothers.

“Two great burger spots: Burgermaster—the name says it all—and Dick’s Drive-In, a classic. Try the original Burgermaster & fries, or Dick’s Deluxe & shake.” —Bill Gates

Illustrations: Hey Studios; Remie Geoffroi| Bill Gates: Courtesy of Bill & Melinda Foundation/James Leynse

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