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Olympic Sculpture Park artwork Before Dawn
Close-up of the Gum Wall on Lower Post Alley
typical South Lake Union streetcar /trolley / tram
entrance to Northwest Tribal ArtCheif Seattle and I
In all the places I visit I think it is always interesting to learn how it got its name. Seattle was no different so I was paying close attention to things and I can tell you it was named after and old chief who¡¦s name was Seattle and he happened to be friends with a famous character in Seattle history Doc Maynard.
In the book the Sons of the Profits by Bill Speidel they talk about Chief Seattle and his relationship with the early white pioneers. Everything then and now was about making money, money, money. It turns out the Chief was no different. He was very upset that they were actually going to name the town after him. According to his spirits every time someone speaks your name after death you would role over in your grave. If that is true Chief Seattle is spinning around frantically right now.
There were other possible names for the town. At one point they even tried calling in New York but it was having negative implications for the town. People like Doc Maynard where set on using the name Seattle so they agreed to pay the chief a royalty for the use of his name. Ever resident of the town actually paid an extra tax to pay for it. Apparently the Chief died a very rich man but the pioneers where not stupid. This among other strategic moves saved Seattle from sure battles with the Indians throughout its early history.
Living a privileged life didn¡¦t make Chief Seattle exactly popular amongst his people. He was often thought of as a traitor for selling out to these white pioneers but as I mentioned in Seattle it was all about making money, money, money!
So there you have a little bit of history as I remember it from oral and written history and here in the picture I am with none other than Chief Seattle himself ļ.
