John Harte McGraw
The bronze statue standing in McGraw Place near Westlake Center, bordered by Stewart Street, Fifth Avenue and Westlake Avenue, is a tribute to the late John Harte McGraw, an instrumental figure in Seattle's history. The statue was funded by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and created by Artist Richard Brooks, shortly after McGraw's death in 1910.
From 1893 to 1897, McGraw was governor of the city, famous for his involvement in the creation of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, connecting Lake Washington with Puget Sound.
Prior to becoming governor, McGraw was King County sheriff, and quieted the many disturbances that occurred against Chinese laborers in the late 1880s. In February 1886, McGraw stopped Seattle citizens attempting to gather Chinese Americans in Seattle and send them back to China. McGraw was also involved in the protection of property during the Seattle fire in 1889.
Today, the John Harte McGraw statue has become a part of Seattle's permanent public art collection.
