On April 19, 2001, the Washington State Senate adopts Resolution No. 8675 honoring the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the Denny Party at Alki Beach, which falls on November 13, 2001. Members of the Denny Part were the founders of Seattle. The resolution is sponsored by local heritage groups including the Association of King County Historical Organizations (AKCHO), Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), Log House Museum, and HistoryLink.org. It is spearheaded by Dow Constantine of the 34th District, which includes West Seattle. Brewster C. Denny (1924-2013), great grandson of Arthur and Mary Denny, attends the formal adoption ceremony.
The full text follows:
SENATE RESOLUTION 8675
By Senators Constantine, Kohl-Welles, Thibaudeau, Kline, McAuliffe, Shin, Prentice, Jacobsen, Rasmussen, Eide, Fairley, Patterson, Roach, Oke, Sheldon, B., and Spanel.
WHEREAS, A party of settlers led by Arthur A. Denny arrived aboard the schooner Exact at Alki Beach on the morning of November 13, 1851; and
WHEREAS, This group of twenty-four men, women, and children was welcomed and aided by Chief Seattle and members of the Duwamish and Suquamish Tribes; and
WHEREAS, Most of the "Denny Party" relocated to the area of present-day Pioneer Square and downtown Seattle the following spring; and
WHEREAS, This group of pioneers dreamed of establishing a great city and port on Elliott Bay, a "New York Alki," meaning New York, by and by, and joined with other early settlers to pursue this vision; and
WHEREAS, The arrival of the Denny Party at Alki Beach is widely recognized as the "birth" of modern Seattle and King County; and
WHEREAS, The social, economic, political, and physical development of today's Seattle-King County metropolitan community has unfolded within the remarkably brief span of just two average human lifetimes; and
WHEREAS, The Seattle-King County metropolitan community has evolved into the largest center of population and economic activity in the Pacific Northwest; and
WHEREAS, November 13, 2001, will mark the one-hundred and fiftieth anniversary, or sesquicentennial, of the arrival of the Denny Party; and
WHEREAS, The sesquicentennial of this event offers an appropriate opportunity for the residents of the metropolitan community and the entire state to honor and learn from the struggles, sacrifices, and achievements of their forebears in laying the foundation for the world we live in today; and
WHEREAS, Local governments and community groups, including the Association of King County Historical Organizations, the Museum of History and Industry, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, and the Log House Museum, are planning appropriate commemorations of the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the Denny Party; and
WHEREAS, Local governments, historical societies, foundations, businesses, and individuals have developed the nation's first nonprofit, community-based online encyclopedia of local history, HistoryLink.Org, to help preserve, enrich, and disseminate the story of the past one-hundred and fifty years;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate honor November 13, 2001, as the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the Denny Party and the founding of modern Seattle and King County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate salute all of the people of Seattle and King County, native and newcomer, living and departed, for their vision and determination in striving to create a better life and stronger community for themselves and their descendants; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted immediately by the Secretary of the Senate to the King County Executive, the Mayor of Seattle, and the Mayors of King County's other municipalities, for distribution to the public, and to representatives of the families of the Denny Party and of Chief Seattle.
I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate, do hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Senate Resolution 8675, adopted by the Senate April 19, 2001.
TONY M. COOK Secretary of the Senate
