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William Henry Seward

William Henry Seward is a monument to the American statesman and U.S. Secretary of State (1861–1869), known as a close associate of Abraham Lincoln and for his role in the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire. The bronze statue was created by Richard E. Brooks (1865–1919). It stands nearly 3 meters tall and weighs about 1 ton, on a granite pedestal 3 meters high and 3.3 meters wide. The monument was unveiled on September 10, 1909, at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and moved the following year to Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.

William Henry Seward statue on a tiered pedestal in Volunteer Park, with people gathered nearby and glass greenhouses in the background.
The William Henry Seward statue stands in Volunteer Park with the conservatory visible behind it.
© Webster & Stevens · Public domain
William Henry Seward statue on a pedestal in front of a glass conservatory in Volunteer Park.
The William Henry Seward monument stands before the conservatory in Seattle’s Volunteer Park.
© Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
William Henry Seward bronze statue on a stone pedestal in a park, with trees and gravestones in the background.
The William Henry Seward monument stands on a stone pedestal in a grassy park setting.
· Public domain
William Henry Seward monument in Volunteer Park, with a bronze statue on a tall stone pedestal in a grassy area.
The William Henry Seward monument stands in Volunteer Park, Seattle, on a tall inscribed pedestal surrounded by trees and grass.
© · Public domain
William Henry Seward monument in Volunteer Park with several men gathered around the base and a vintage automobile nearby.
The William Henry Seward monument in Volunteer Park, with several men gathered at its base and a vintage automobile parked nearby.
© · Public domain

Identification

TitleWilliam Henry Seward
TypeOutdoor bronze statue
SubjectWilliam Henry Seward
Alternative titlesLet Us Make the Treaty Tonight; Monument to William H. Seward; William H. Seward

Historical context

Historical significanceAssociated with the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire

Creator

ArtistRichard E. Brooks (1865–1919)

Discovery and provenance

Unveiling dateSeptember 10, 1909
Cost$15,000
Commissioning and fundingMade possible by private donations
Setting at unveilingThe New York State Building was an exact copy of Seward's house in Auburn, New York
Original unveiling locationIn front of the New York State Building at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
First exhibitedAlaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition

Physical characteristics

MaterialBronze
Height of statueAlmost 3 m
Weight of statueAbout 1 ton
Pedestal height3 m
Pedestal dimensions3.3 m
Pedestal materialGranite imported from abroad

Location and ownership

Current locationVolunteer Park, Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington, United States

History and restoration

Relocation date1910