Look for a tall, light-colored stone pedestal with a bronze bust of a serious-looking man gazing into the distance-the statue stands proudly in the open, surrounded by grass and trees in Denny Park.
Welcome to your first stop! Take a look at that bronze bust sitting on a tall pedestal-if he seems to be staring wisely into the Seattle sky, you’ve found Dr. Mark A. Matthews. Back in 1941, artist Alonzo Victor Lewis gave us this rather regal depiction, and he didn’t forget to leave his signature touch on the back. Mark Matthews wasn’t your average preacher; he was a mover and shaker, a man whose sermons could stir up a crowd and whose dedication to helping others was legendary. Imagine him walking right here among the trees, his coat tails swishing, determined to make Seattle a more just city, one fiery speech at a time. People called him a friend of man, and not just because he was good at potlucks-he helped the poor, fought corruption, and spoke up when others stayed silent. In 1942, the city honored him with this memorial, so next time you hear a pigeon coo, imagine it’s Mark trying to give you a little advice from above. And if the statue looks a bit weathered, well, it’s just proof he’s been standing watch over the park for a long time. Don’t forget to admire that inscription-a little thank you from Seattle to one of its true reformers!
