| Historic Name: |
Occidental Park |
Common Name: |
Occidental Park |
| Style: |
Modern |
Neighborhood: |
Pioneer Square |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1972 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). |
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In 1971, the City of Seattle obtained federal monies to create a landscaped square at the site of a parking lot, located east of the Grand Central Building. The City commissioned Jones & Jones Architects, Landscape Architects to design Occidental Park. Ilze Jones designed the new park and public square as part of a spine tying Pioneer Place to Occidental Park and to Occidental Mall (also designed by Ilze Jones), thus creating a cohesive array of open spaces and buildings. The glass covered pergola was inspired by the Washington Street Boat Landing and the industrial nature of the district, its fire escapes and water towers. Reclaimed cobble stones, which once paved city streets, were used to pave the square. Originally, a single row of London Plane trees served to underscore the Jones and Jones Plan for a building to frame Occidental Park to the east, still the site of a parking lot. The construction of Occidental Park was completed in 1972. The design of Occidental Park represents the early efforts to rehabilitate and reclaim the historic district, not only to rehabilitate historic sites such as Pioneer Place, but to create new, attractive open spaces.
All the totems were carved by Duane Pasco. The tallest totem, representing Raven stealing the moon, “Sun and Raven,” was originally created for the Spokane World’s Fair in 1974. Not far from it, “Man Riding on the Tail of A Whale,” was made in 1971. The bear and Tsonoqua totems, at the north end of the park, were donated by Richard White, who was also involved in the early restoration of Pioneer Square buildings, in 1987 and 1988.
The long rows of London planetrees have since developed much denser foliage, so that the space really resembles a park; however, others have objected that the density of foliage on the trees has created a dark, shadowy place. This and other concerns have probably led to a recent and controversial Project for Public Spaces proposal. In 1998, a sculpture commemorating Seattle Firefighters was placed more or less at the center of one of the eastern rows of plane trees, to the north side of park, somewhat obscuring the clarity of the two long tree lined walks or allees at the edge of the park.
Because the park is a fairly recent work, it is non-contributing; however, it is very significant as a public place in the district. This work of Ilze Jones and Jones & Jones Architects Landscape Architects should be considered historically significant in the years to come.
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| Appearance |
| Occidental Park is sited just east of “Grand Central on the Park,” originally known as the Squire-Latimer Block. Occidental Park was completed in 1972, with only a few changes made over the years. As of 2004, this a cobblestone and brick paved open space, distinguished by its modern, glass covered pergola at the south side and rows of London planetrees, which frame the main part of the square and create two long allees, running north-south on the eastern edge. Other important features are a tall totem pole representing “Sun and Raven” which tells of Raven’s theft of the moon, a second one entitled “Man Riding on the Tail of a Whale” and a specially landscaped area at the Square’s north side with two totems. One represents a bear and the other, Tsonoqua, a mythical giantess and “nightmare bringer.” |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Site |
District Status: |
NR, LR |
| Cladding(s): |
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Foundation(s): |
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| Roof Type(s): |
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Roof Material(s): |
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| Building Type: |
Landscape - Plaza |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
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No. of Stories: |
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| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Arts, Community Planning/Development, Ethnic Heritage |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Slight |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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Andrews, Mildred et al. Pioneer Square: Seattle's Oldest Neighborhood. Manuscript. Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, forthcoming 2005.
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Crowley, Walt. National Trust Guide: Seattle. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998.
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Ilze Jones. Interview by Mildred Tanner Andrews and Leonard Garfield (transcript). Seattle, 30 October, 2000.
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Sherwood, Don. “Pioneer and Occidental Squares.” Sherwood History Files (produced in the 1970s), Seattle Parks and Recreation, Website: www.CityofSeattle.net/parks/history/sherwood.atm
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