For us? You shouldn’t have.
We think living in Seattle is the greatest gift of all, but our city has actually been on the receiving end of quite a few delightful donations. From public parks to museums and more, check out these four gifts given to the city.
Cowen Park | In the early 1900s, local realtor Charles Cowen donated the land to build Cowen Park. In part, the development of the park was catalyzed by preparation for the forthcoming 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, a major fair that was held nearby on the grounds of the University of Washington.
Seattle Asian Art Museum | The building now housing this museum was donated to the city by the Fuller family — specifically, Richard Fuller and his mother, Margaret, both of whom were avid travelers and art collectors. The Fullers fully funded the $250,000 to construct the building and worked with local architects to develop the museum, which opened in June 1933.
Leif Erickson statue | The Shilshole Bay Marina statue of the Norse explorer was donated to Seattle by the Leif Erikson League in 1962, after nearly a decade of fundraising and designing.
Chris Cornell statue | An homage to Seattle’s deep musical roots, this artwork was donated by the family of the late Chris Cornell, former frontman for Soundgarden, to the Museum of Pop Culture in 2018.
These extraordinary gifts not only add character and value to our city but also show how generosity can have a lasting impact. Do you know of another major gift donated to our city? Let us know.
