History of the Park

The Olympic Sculpture Park evolved out of a mutual commitment of the Seattle Art Museum and the Trust for Public Land to preserve downtown Seattle's last undeveloped waterfront property. In 1999, the museum purchased property on Seattle's central waterfront from Union Oil of California (UNOCAL) with private and public funding. To make the future park complete and accessible to the waterfront, SAM later acquired an additional property (10 Broad St.) with the support of the City of Seattle and King County and leased part of the Alaskan Way right-of-way.

Working together to make a dream become a reality.

Timeline

1910

UNOCAL (Union Oil Company of California) establishes a petroleum transfer and distribution facility on what later becomes the Olympic Sculpture Park.

1911–1934

Seattle constructs a waterfront seawall from Washington to Broad streets.

1975–1999

UNOCAL ceases petroleum operations at the future Olympic Sculpture Park site and closes and spends 10 years on cleanup efforts.

1999

SAM, in collaboration with the Trust for Public Land, raises $16.5 million in private funding for the purchase of the UNOCAL site.

Jon and Mary Shirley pledge to endow the park’s operations ensuring it is open and free to everyone, and help name the park.

2001

Out of 52 designers from around the world, Weiss/Manfredi Architects of New York is selected as Lead Designer for the park.

2002

Weiss/Manfredi unveil the park's design and model on May 14.

2004

92,986 cubic yards of dirt is removed from the site of SAM's downtown museum expansion project, and is transported to the park for use as recycled fill.

2005

In the summer, construction of the Olympic Sculpture Park begins.

2006

Park construction and art installation are substantially completed.

2007

The Olympic Sculpture Park opens to the public on Jan. 20!