Designing the Washington Territory Seal
An early proposal for the official seal that featured a log cabin, a settler’s wagon, and the Chinook jargon word 'Alki'.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
We have been shown a sketch for an official seal of our new territory, designed by a gentleman who has been connected with the northern railway exploring expedition, which we conceive to be eminently appropriate and beautiful. On one side is represented a log cabin and immigrant wagon—as emblems of the infancy and future growth of our territory—with a forest of fir in the background. On the other is represented a sheet of water being traversed by a steamer and sailing vessel—the groundwork of city life, with the goddess of hope, and in the centre, pointing above to the significant Chinook word 'Alki'—indicative of 'we hope for great hereafter, and be content to bide our time.' It will be expected that the legislature adopt some design for a territorial seal, and we would respectfully call the attention of that body to the one referred to.
“Alki—indicative of 'we hope for great hereafter, and be content to bide our time.'”
This is a rare look at the birth of the 'Alki' motto, which is still the unofficial motto of Seattle today. The imagery described—log cabins and steamships—perfectly encapsulates the colonial vision of 1854 for the newly minted Washington Territory.
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