Pier 52 was historically known as Colman Dock . The original Colman Dock was built by Scottish engineer James Colman in 1882 . It burned with most of the rest of the city in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 , but was quickly rebuilt . In 1908 , Colman extended the dock to a total length of and added a domed waiting room and a clocktower . Calamity hit four years later . On the night of April 25 , 1912 , the steel-hulled ship '' Alameda '' accidentally set its engines " full speed ahead " instead of reversing , and slammed into the dock . The dock tower fell into the bay and the sternwheeler '' Telegraph '' was sunk . The clock was salvaged , as was the '' Telegraph '' , and the dock was reconstructed with a new tower . No one died in the '' Alameda '' accident , but a less dramatic accident the following month proved fatal . On May 19 , 1912 , a gangplank collapsed as passengers were boarding the Black Ball steamer '' Flyer '' . At least 60 people fell into the water . One woman and one child died
Great Seattle Fire
Great Seattle Fire
Central Waterfront, Seattle