Summary: | The totem pole at Pioneer Square has been a Seattle landmark since 1899. In that year, a group of Seattle businessmen visited the Tlingit village of Tongass, in Alaska. They thought the village was deserted and removed the 50-foot tall pole as a souvenir. The village residents were away at work, however, and the businessmen were later fined for the theft of the pole. The pole was originally created as a memorial to a woman of the Raven Clan. After being damaged by fire in 1938, it was replaced by a duplicate pole carved by Tlingit craftsmen. Signs in image: [.] Goldfarb, Tailor. Wm. Seeman, Merchant Tailor. Masquerade Costumes. Damus & Osner Real Estate. Merchants Cafe - Olympia Beer. Olympic Hotel. Northern Pacific Express Co. - Wells Fargo & Company Express - Burlington Route Freight & Ticket Office. Northern Pacific Ticket [Office]. Doctor Medical. Northern Pacific - Yellowstone Park [.]. [Calhoun?] Denny & [Ew.]. Ship [Brokers]. Handwritten on sleeve: Pioneer Square Totem Pole. Caption by MOHAI staff. 1 glass negative: b&w; 8 x 10 in.
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