Rachel the Pig

The Pike Place Market is an iconic place in Seattle, Washington. The market would not be the same with one very important figure, Rachel the piggy bank. People from all over the world have taken pictures with Rachel as well as add their respective currencies to the bank. Rachel has a cousin named Billie (who is located on the west side of the market). Together they bring in around $20,000 annually and the money collected goes towards a foodbank, clinic, senior center, and preschool. Rachel has been through a lot in her 36 years of living in the market, she even withstanded a taxicab running in to her.

The Pike Place Market has been a staple in Seattle since its inception in 1907. For the first 79 years of the Market’s existence, it was without a key figure that is there to greet visitors as they enter. This figure is Rachel the pig. Rachel was installed at the entrance of the market in 1986. Rachel was constructed, with a bronze cast, by a Whidbey Island sculptor, Georgia Gerber. Gerber based her creation on Rachel the pig who (was actually a pig) who won the Whidbey Island county fair in 1985. Rachel the piggy bank is 200 pounds less than the real Rachel at 550 pounds. Gerber’s sculptures are scattered all over Seattle. In addition to Rachel, she also sculpted the husky at the Alaska Airlines stadium at the University of Washington and the gorillas and baboons at the Woodland Park Zoo.

Rachel is most known by marketgoers and tourists as a place to take cool photos and a fun sculpture that children can play with. Rachel even caught the eye of someone from all the way across the country. Philbert, a bronze pig from Philadelphia wrote Rachel a “love letter” and Rachel even responded. More attention is brought to Rachel when she can often be found dressed in fun outfits, such as Seahawks apparel, Halloween costumes, or even a tutu. But what many do not know is that Rachel brings in around $20,000 annually. The money collected supports a food bank, clinic, senior center, and preschool. The collection of funds has become almost a ritual, happening every day. The slot where money is put in can be unlocked and pulled up and the money is then collected. The idea was created for the purpose to give back to the community. Having a passive way of collecting more income for citizens in the community is something that should be practiced more often.

With Rachel bringing in so much money the market foundation created another pig named Billie was put in place in 2011. Billie, Rachel’s cousin, is located on the west side of the market, called the market front. Billie has an awesome view, she gets to look out over the water. Billie and Rachel together have been quite the dynamic duo in their lifetimes together pulling in more than $350,000.

In addition to Rachel’s aid to the community, she has literally saved lives. In 2011 a taxi was rear-ended and the driver hit the gas instead of the break sending it directly toward innocent shoppers and the beloved fish market. Luckily Rachel was fearlessly in the way to stop the taxi from hitting the pedestrians. 

Rachel has a regular visitor who has donated her career earnings to Rachel. Charley who is a five-year-old began creating beaded necklaces and selling them and putting her proceeds in Rachel the piggy bank. In total Charley has given Rachel around $750.

Rachel and Billie have been a great addition to the market. The extra funds that they bring in are awesome but the attention and fun that they add to the market are just as good or better.

Berner, Alan. Rachel the Pig pulls her weight at Pike Place Market, Seattle Times. October 6th 2008. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://www.seattletimes.com/photo-video/wanderings-rachel-the-pig-brings-home-the-bacon-at-pike-place-market/.

Meet Rachel and Billie, Pike Place Market Foundation. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://pikeplacemarketfoundation.org/rachel-billie-the-bronze-piggybanks/.

Laycock, Jake. The Origins of Pike Place Market's Famous Pig, Seattle Mag. April 21st 2022. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://seattlemag.com/article/origins-pike-place-markets-famous-pig.

Rachel the Piggy Bank, Pike Place Market. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://www.pikeplacemarket.org/vendor/rachel-the-piggy-bank/.

Alexander, Gemma. 9 Facts About Pike Place Market's Rachel the Pig, Parent Map. June 1st 2017. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://www.parentmap.com/article/rachel-the-pig-pike-place.