Seattle, Chief of the Suquamish, Statue
historic place
The statue of Seattle, Chief of the Suquamish, is located in Tilikum Place in Seattle, Washington. This historic place is a bronze sculpture created by artist James Wehn. It was formally unveiled on November 13, 1912. Chief Seattle was a leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes. He maintained a peaceful relationship with the early white settlers in the area. The city of Seattle was named in his honor. The statue depicts Chief Seattle with his hand raised in a gesture of greeting. It stands on a stone pedestal that originally functioned as a fountain, featuring bear heads that spouted water. James Wehn, the sculptor, based his work on the only known photographic portrait of Chief Seattle, taken in 1865. Wehn later established the sculpture department at the University of Washington. The statue was unveiled by Chief Seattle's great-great-granddaughter, Myrtle Loughery. It was the first commissioned public art in Seattle. The statue was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 19, 1984, and designated a city landmark on May 6, 1985. This statue serves as a visual reminder of the city's Native American heritage and the figure for whom Seattle is named.