History and industry and elbow-rubbing
Tonight, as recorded only a couple of hours ago, I attended a reception at MOHAI for the opening of a new exhibit there, Essential Seattle, which follows the history of the city from its Native American heritage through the WTO riots and more. Some of the city's great and good were in attendance; the crowd seemed well-informed and enthuastic. The exhibit is really good, with new artifacts on display: the first American flag ever to fly in the city, a blanket woven by one of the city mothers, album covers by NIrvana and Sound Garden (they're history, too!). Also, part of the creation of this exhibit included beefing up other exhibits in the museum, too, which was a long time coming IMNSHO.
My favorite exhibits included those about the earliest settlers, World War II (including some unflinching coverage of the Japanese internment), the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exhibition, and the 1962 World's Fair. It struck me, especially looking at the pictures of the Borens, the Yeslers, the DennysSeattle's early and most prominent citizens, for whom some of our main streets are namedand reading about them, that these guys really did come out here to make a buck in the fastest way possible. Certainly, the most popular history of the city, Sons of the Profits, makes no bones about that. But crass as they were, they were also determined and admirable in their way. The World's Fair exhibit for some reason really choked me up; I still haven't figured out whymaybe it was a little civic pride.
During the brief speechifying, the museum's president listed the organizations he wanted to thank, which included big corporations, law firms . . . and Dick's Drive-in, a Seattle stalwart since, like, 1954. I remarked, "Oh, that's funny." A blond, impeccably and expensively dressed woman standing next to me said, "Oh, but they've been pillars of the community for years." "Oh yes, I know" I told her, "I just think it's great that in the middle of this list of big, serious firms is . . . well, Dick's Drive-in." She chuckled and nodded. We exchanged quiet remarks throughout the talk, and then the president mentioned that some of the city's leaders were present. He wanted to acknowledge them. Turned out this lovely woman was Jan Drago, one of the members of the Seattle city council! (Turns out she's the chair of the Transportation Committee, which means she has quite a bit to answer for, but that's a subject for another time.) She was polite and pleasant with me, and it was a kick to discover she was who I chatted with.
My favorite exhibits included those about the earliest settlers, World War II (including some unflinching coverage of the Japanese internment), the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exhibition, and the 1962 World's Fair. It struck me, especially looking at the pictures of the Borens, the Yeslers, the DennysSeattle's early and most prominent citizens, for whom some of our main streets are namedand reading about them, that these guys really did come out here to make a buck in the fastest way possible. Certainly, the most popular history of the city, Sons of the Profits, makes no bones about that. But crass as they were, they were also determined and admirable in their way. The World's Fair exhibit for some reason really choked me up; I still haven't figured out whymaybe it was a little civic pride.
During the brief speechifying, the museum's president listed the organizations he wanted to thank, which included big corporations, law firms . . . and Dick's Drive-in, a Seattle stalwart since, like, 1954. I remarked, "Oh, that's funny." A blond, impeccably and expensively dressed woman standing next to me said, "Oh, but they've been pillars of the community for years." "Oh yes, I know" I told her, "I just think it's great that in the middle of this list of big, serious firms is . . . well, Dick's Drive-in." She chuckled and nodded. We exchanged quiet remarks throughout the talk, and then the president mentioned that some of the city's leaders were present. He wanted to acknowledge them. Turned out this lovely woman was Jan Drago, one of the members of the Seattle city council! (Turns out she's the chair of the Transportation Committee, which means she has quite a bit to answer for, but that's a subject for another time.) She was polite and pleasant with me, and it was a kick to discover she was who I chatted with.