George Washington - Seattle, WA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Located on the west edge of the University of Washington campus is a larger-than-life statue of George Washington. There are two historical markers located on the front of the plinth of the statue and they read:

PRESENTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON JUNE 14, 1909 BY RAINIER CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, ASSISTED BY THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BY THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND BY THE STATE COMMISSION OF THE ALASKA-YUKON PACIFIC EXPOSITION.

THIS STATUE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (1789-1797) AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE COLONIAL ARMIES DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (1775-1783), WAS CREATED IN 1909 BY THE EMINENT AMERICAN SCULPTOR LORADO TAFT (1860-1936) AT THE REQUEST OF PROFESSOR EDMOND S. MEANY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CAMPUS. Plaque presented February 16, 2009, by the Washington State Daughters of the American Revolution, in celebration of the centennial of the original gift.

The Alaskan-Yukon Pacific Exposition was basically a World's Fair and encompassed a number of other countries. It was held from June through October, 1909. There is a UW Library webpage devoted to the Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition and includes some great photographs of the festivities. Only two campus buildings survive from the Exposition: Architecture Hall and Cunningham Hall (Women's Building). Drumheller Fountain and the George Washington statue are also structures that have survived and greet visitors to the University of Washington campus.

The following is taken from the Smithsonian Art Inventory Catalog to describe this statue:

The sculpture was commissioned in 1905 by the Rainier Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Cost of the sculpture was $8,000. Funding was provided by the D.A.R., Washington state school children and the state government. The sculpture was dedicated in 1909 and donated to the University at that time. Because of lack of funds for the $12,000 base designed by the artist, the sculpture was originally set on a wooden platform for the 1909 Alaska-Pacific-Yukon Exposition, which was held on the University grounds. Monumental News April 1908 issue lists the total cost as $30,000. In 1935, the sculpture was moved to a new location on campus. In 1939, the sculpture was installed on a new limestone faced base as originally designed by the artist and constructed by the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration). In 1969, the sculpture was removed from its site due to construction. In 1970 it was reinstalled on a new pedestal, again of the original design, but constructed of concrete. A plaque (which read "In memory of Elenor Washington Spicer") was donated by the D.A.R. and installed in 1984 but had been stolen by 1987. In 1993, the sculpture was cleaned and restored by Fabrication Specialties Limited (Seattle, Washington). IAS files contain copy of University of Washington inventory record, copies of related University correspondence, and copies of conservation treatment reports. IAS files contain copies of related articles from the Daily (Seattle, WA) Jan. 5 and Feb. 16, 1993 and University Week, Feb.18, 1993; and excerpt from University of Washington Guide visitor's brochure.

TITLE: George Washington ARTIST(S): Lorado Zadoc Taft DATE: June 14, 1909 MEDIUM: Sculpture: Bronze; Base: Concrete CONTROL NUMBER: IAS WA000439 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: University of Washington George Washington Lane Northeast Seattle, WA DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: There has been a second plaque added below the current plaque in 2009 as a 100-yr anniversary centennial celebration of the original statue gift.

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