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.
<p>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.
In this photo, men are seated on benches around the totem pole waiting for the streetcar.
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<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Totem poles</li></ul>
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Webster &amp; Stevens</div>
1915<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1915-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search">Museum of History and Industry</a>