2nd Ave. north from and James St., July 1912

• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: Edward H. Mitchell (San Francisco, Calif.) 1912
• Subjects: Potlatch > Washington (State) > Seattle; Festivals > Washington (State) > Seattle; Streets > Washington (State) > Seattle; Second Avenue (Seattle; Wash.); James Street (Seattle; Buildings > Washington (State) > Seattle; Office buildings > Washington (State) > Seattle; Central business districts > Washington (State) > Seattle; Tall buildings > Washington (State) > Seattle; Crown Building (Seattle; Oriental Block (Seattle; Alaska Building (Seattle; Hotels > Washington (State) > Seattle; Hotel Butler (Seattle; Butler Hotel (Seattle; Street railroads > Washington (State) > Seattle; Cable cars (Streetcars); Pedestrians; Automobiles; Signs and signboards; Carriages and carts; Horse-drawn vehicles; Horses; Seattle. Potlatch; Indian; Pacific; Tyee; Yukon; Alaska
• Online Access: http://cdm16118.contentdm.oclc.org/u?/p16118coll3,1423

Hotel Butler appears on the left side of the street and the buildings on the right side of the street (from closest to furthest) are the Crown Building, Oriental Block and the Alaska Building. Transcribed from postcard: "The word "Potlatch" is from the Chinook Jargon, the trade language of the North Pacific Coast Indians. It means a gift or to give. In a larger sense the Indians applied it to a great festival at which gifts were made. Seattle's Golden Potlatch will be a great festival in celebration of the gift of gold by Alaska to the world through this City, the gateway of the Northern Empire. It will be a week of carnival and jollity. The opening date, July 17th, is the anniversary of the arrival of the first treasure ship." Description of the Golden Potlatch festival: "The success of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition encouraged local boosters to plan another ambitious event to showcase the city. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Advertising Club and the Press Club decided to create a civic celebration loosely modeled on the Northwest coastal Indian tribes' potlatch, a ceremony of friendship and sharing. Seattle held its first Potlatch in 1911, but the Golden Potlatch of 1912 was a far greater festival, meant to attract visitors from far and near.The summer carnival was both a cynical exploitation and a madcap spectacle. The Potlatch shamelessly looted the heritage of Pacific Northwest Indian people. The Golden Potlatch began with the arrival of the 'Hyas Tyee' -- or Big Chief -- in his great war canoe, visiting the city from his home in the far north. The Tillikums of Elttaes (Seattle spelled backward) paraded the streets in white suits, their hats draped in battery-powered lights, gladhanding any visitors who came their way. Bright-eyed members of the Press and Ad clubs, as well as the Chamber, slathered themselves in greasepaint, donned Chilkat blankets and pretended to be 'tyees' and 'shamans.' But the Golden Potlatch volunteers also offered a week of entertainment free to anyone in the city. Every ...