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Cal Anderson? What? Who? 4th of July Party, Cal Anderson, Cal Anderson Park, history, secrets

Cal Anderson Park. We all hang out there , appreciate its beauty, and wonder what’s inside that architectural cone fountain thing. But how many people actually know the man behind the name Cal Anderson?

If you identified the man in the photo as Cal Anderson, you are clearly one smart cookie.

Washington State history site HistoryLink.org. Did such a good job explaining Cal’s story, I saw no reason to shuffle words around:

“On November 9, 1987, Democrat Calvin B. “Cal” Anderson (1948-1995) becomes Washington state’s first openly gay legislator when the King County Council appoints him to a vacant seat in the House of Representatives from Seattle’s 43rd District. Anderson will go on to win election to the House from the 43rd District. In 1994, he will win election to the Washington State Senate.

Anderson was a Democratic activist and an aide to Seattle City Council Member George Benson and to Mayor Charles Royer. He was a decorated combat veteran of the U.S. Army in Vietnam and called himself, “a Democrat who happens to be gay” (The Seattle Times). In the legislature Anderson backed gay rights legislation and battled initiatives that would discriminate against gays. He also worked for campaign finance reform, easier voter registration, and open access to government documents.

Cal Anderson died on August 4, 1995, of AIDS-related complications. On April 19, 2003, Cal Anderson Park, on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, was named and dedicated in his honor, along with the park’s new structure, the Cal Anderson Shelterhouse. On September 24, 2005, the community celebrated the grand re-opening of the park.”

Thought only recently named for Cal Anderson, the park has been around for many, many moons. It actually began life as the Lincoln Reservoir at the turn of the 20th century.

Being so old and all, the park has a few secrets of its own.

Did you know the Chinese Scholar/Japanese Pagoda Tree  located at the entrance nearest Broadway is one of the largest and oldest  trees of its type in the state? This tree is so special it’s actually designated as a Seattle Landmark Heritage Tree. Look for the plaque to find proof.

And remember how Cal Anderson Park used to be Lincoln Reservoir? Well, it still is. The northern half  of the park is built on a giant lid that covers the Lincoln Reservoir, meaning the park’s suspended  over a portion of Seattle’s drinking water.

Also, do you know one of Cal Anderson’s own personal Rhododendron plants lives in the northwest corner of the park right now? Before finding permanent residence in the park, the Rhody hung out in a community member’s backyard for a full year until the city granted approval to install the plant in the park. 

Last but not least, did you know the teletubby hill in the northeast corner of the park is actually made of foam? 

Now that we’ve done all the leg work for you, why not come see all of the park for yourself? Specifically on the 4th of July.  In all its Independence Day glory.