Who is this Thomas Burke?

The gravesite of Judge Thomas Burke and his wife Caroline

provides grandeur but no epitaph.

His memorial erected in Seattle's Volunteer Park offers both:

1849-1925
Thomas Burke
Patriot Jurist
Orator Friend
Patron of Education
First in every movement for the

advancement of the city and the state
Seattles foremost and best beloved citizen

Faithful unto death in the promotion of

understanding and amity among nations.

Champion of law and order, unselfish

leader in the city's early struggle.

This monument erected by his friends throughout the world.

Photos by McGilvra, December 2007.

Aerial view of UW Campus, 1955.
The Museum is in the lower right, Washington State Building.
Photo by unknown photographer, 1955; courtesy of the UW Library Special
Collections, negative #UW19721z

Incarnations of the Museum: 1962-present

In the 1960s, the museum reemerged with a new building and a new name, the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum. The museum opened its doors to the public on May 4, 1964.

Incarnations of the Museum: 1927-1957

For thirty years the Museum operated out of the Washington State Building. As with Forestry & California, this building was also a remnant of the 1909 Expo. It was the library until 1926 and then remodeled for the Museum in 1927. After the Museum moved out, it was gradually torn down, some in 1961 and the rest in 1988.
Photo by Calvin F. Todd, n.d.; courtesy of UW Libraries Special Collections, order #CFT0165.

Third grade students inside the Museum, December 7, 1950.

Photo by E.F. Marten, 1950; courtesy of UW Libraries Special Collections, order #UWCO374.

Incarnations of the Museum: 1910-1923

The Forestry Building (above) and California Building (below) provided new space for the Museum, both were constructed for the Alaska Yukon Pacific Expo in 1909. Forestry was built using natural Fir tree logs as columns 4' diameter and 37' tall. The building was compromised by Bark Beetles and torn down in 1930.

California did not last as long, torn down in 1915.

Top: Photo by John N. Cobb, 1922; courtesy of UW Libraries Special Collections, negative #Cobb 4626. Bottom: Photos by unknown photographer, 1909; courtesy of UW Libraries Special Collections, order #AYP322.

Incarnations of the Museum: 1895-1910

When the University moved to Denny Hall, so did parts of the Museum collection, and in 1904 the rest of the collection followed.
Photo by Webster & Stevens, circa 1901; courtesy of UW Libraries Special Collections, negative #UW19757z.

Museum exhibits inside Denny Hall, probably the basement.

Photo by unknown photographer, courtesy of UW Libraries Special Collections, negative #UW19949z.

Incarnations of the Museum: 1885-1904

The Hall of the Young Naturalists, home to the Museum from 1885 to 1904. The building was located on the UW campus in downtown Seattle, near the present location of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel at 4th & University.
Photo by unknown photographer, courtesy of the UW Libraries Special Collections, negative # UW910.

Third grade students viewing exhibits inside the Burke Museum, Washington State's oldest museum, December 7, 1950