POSTPONED; Rededication of Battle of Seattle monument

The restored monument.
Photo courtesy Lady Stirling DAR

UPDATE 10-13-16: Centennial Rededication of Battle of Seattle Monument postponed due to weather forecast

Due to the predicted storms this weekend, and on Saturday in particular, the Lady Stirling Chapter DAR has cancelled this Saturday's planned Centennial Rededication of the Battle of Seattle monument event. We will be reschedule the dedication for a future date.

~~~~~~~~~

Lady Stirling Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, invites members of the public to attend the Centennial Rededication of the Battle of Seattle Monument, City Hall Park, 450 3rd Avenue, Seattle, on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 10:30am.

The Lady Stirling Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is hosting a public event to rededicate the restored monument and bronze plaques commemorating the 1856 Battle of Seattle.

The bronze plaques were in need of cleaning
Photo courtesy Lady Stirling DAR

Christopher Williams, Deputy Superintendent of the Seattle Parks and Recreation, will represent the City during the ceremony. Also attending will be the Honorable Cecile Hansen, chair of the Duwamish Tribe, founder and current president of Duwamish Tribal Services and great great grandniece of Chief Si’ahl' (namesake for the City of Seattle).

Newley refurbished plaque
Photo courtesy Lady Stirling DAR

The Battle of Seattle monument and plaque was donated to the City of Seattle and erected by Lady Stirling Chapter DAR on August 15, 1916 in remembrance of the brief but pivotal battle fought between pioneer settlers and Washington State's native people.

The Lady Stirling Chapter, with the help of Sons of the American Revolution member, Marion (Mick) Hersey, cleaned and restored the stone base and two bronze plaques mounted on the Battle of Seattle monument.

The boulder has a plaque remembering the USS Maine
Photo courtesy Lady Stirling DAR

The restoration and rededication ceremony, on this centennial year of the monument's initial presentation to the City, is intended preserve this monument, renew public awareness of the early history of Seattle, and bring historic meaning to City Hall Park.

One hundred years ago, the erecting of the Battle of Seattle plaque and monument represented a battle fought and won by the white settlers. Today, it also represents a turning point for Washington State's native people and the loss of their lives fighting for fair treatment and preservation of a way of life; it was a pivotal battle for both pioneer settlers and the native people.

Detail from the boulder
Photo courtesy Lady Stirling DAR

The Battle of Seattle plaque stands as a memorial to that struggle as it is erected on the very location of the battle fought January 26, 1856.

Lady Stirling Chapter is about 20 members strong and rich in history. The Chapter's membership covers the northwest end of Lake Washington and is committed to serving our community, in keeping with the principles of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).