Victor Steinbrueck Park facts for kids
Victor Steinbrueck Park is a small park in Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. It is about 0.8 acres (3,000 square meters) in size. The park is located just northwest of the famous Pike Place Market. It offers great views of Elliott Bay. The park is named after Victor Steinbrueck, a well-known architect from Seattle. You can find it between Western Avenue and the Alaskan Way Viaduct, right at the end of Virginia Street.
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How Victor Steinbrueck Park Was Created
This park sits on the land where the Washington National Guard Armory used to be. This old building was built around 1909. Sadly, it was badly damaged by a fire in 1962. At that time, people were arguing about what would happen to Pike Place Market. The armory building was finally torn down in 1968.
Victor Steinbrueck was very important in saving nearby Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. In 1968, he wrote about this spot. He said it was one of the best places downtown to look out from. He felt the city had not taken care of it. He also thought its potential for people to enjoy was ignored.
Steinbrueck was strongly against tearing down the armory. He believed that old buildings like it were very special. He said they connect us to the past. They also add variety and interest to new areas. He felt that fixing up such buildings was possible for good designers.
The city bought the land in 1968. They removed what was left of the armory. In 1970, the land was given to the parks department. The park was then designed in 1982 and called Market Park.
Totem Poles and Renaming the Park
Two special cedar totem poles were added to the park in 1984. Victor Steinbrueck himself designed these poles. They were carved by an artist named James Bender.
Victor Steinbrueck passed away in 1985. After his death, the park was renamed in his honor. His son, Peter Steinbrueck, also became an architect. Peter later served on the Seattle City Council from 1997 to 2007.
Victor Steinbrueck Park in Books
Victor Steinbrueck Park is also a setting in a book. It is an important place in the novel A Knight of the Word by Terry Brooks.
See also
- In Spanish: Victor Steinbrueck Park para niños
