The Chief Si'ahl (Chief Seattle) statue is an outdoor life-size sculpture by local artist James Wehn, installed at Tilikum Place Park, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, Denny Way, and Cedar Street in Seattle. Si'ahl (c. 1786-1866), known to settlers as Chief Seattle, became the leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish people sometime around 1810. When settlers started moving to the Elliott Bay area in the 1850s, Chief Si'ahl stayed friendly to the newcomers and urged his people to do the same. The city of Seattle was named for him.

This photograph was taken in 1962 and shows the statue Chief Si'ahl being removed for cleaning in preparation for the Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World's Fair), which ran from April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962. Artist Wehn objected to a proposal to turn the statue around so it would face the then-new Seattle Center Monorail, seen here in the background. After its cleaning, the statue was returned to its original location and orientation, facing Elliott Bay.

Caption information source: "New illumination of the statue of Chief Seattle beckons viewers," Lynda V. Mapes, http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/new-illumination-of-the-statue-of-chief-seattle-beckons-viewers/