Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
door pedestrian bridge with a glass ceiling. For smaller-scale work, don't miss Chi-
huly's permanent collection at the Tacoma Art Museum.
Artists
Well-known Northwest coast artists include Bill Reid (1920-98), an outstanding Haida
artist who acquired his skills from Mungo Martin, a Kwakiutl master carver of totem
poles. He's a descendant of Charles Edenshaw, another legendary carver and silversmith.
Robert Davidson, a contemporary British Columbia craftsman also of Haida descent, is a
master mask and totem-pole carver who has been highly awarded for his interpretation of
traditional Haida forms. Yet another British Columbia resident is Susan Point, who has
combined personal style with traditional Salish art elements in a variety of artistic medi-
ums; many of her works can be seen in public areas, such as at the Vancouver Interna-
tional Airport.
Architecture
Seattle's 605ft Space Needle is likely the Pacific Northwest's most famous structure.
Completed in 1961 for the 1962 World's Fair, this landmark can withstand 200mph
winds and has had several people jump off the top - with parachutes on. The Emerald
City also boasts the Columbia Center, the region's tallest building at 937ft; head to the
observation deck on the 73rd floor for an awe-inspiring view of the city. The Central
Library and EMP Museum are other noteworthy buildings here.
Portland's controversial Portland Building, designed by Michael Graves, is a great ex-
ample of the postmodern period. Out front is Portlandia , the second-largest hammered-
copper statue in the world (after the Statue of Liberty). The glassy twin towers of the
city's Oregon Convention Center are hard to miss from the freeway as you enter town;
inside is the world's largest Foucault pendulum. And outside Salem is the Mount Angel
Abbey, which boasts a modernist library designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.
Vancouver's most notable structures include its huge, coliseumlike public library
building and concrete-and-glass Museum of Anthropology, inspired by Native American
dwellings. The Shangri-La building is the city's tallest glass tower, and a stunner.
With all those rivers, the region is famous for its bridges. Seattle's Spokane Street
Bridge is a concrete, double-leaf swing bridge and has received awards for its innovative
design - and it is claimed to be the only one of its kind in the world. The city's Elliot Av-
enue Helix (pedestrian) bridge is a stunner, with its DNA-ladder-like good looks.
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search