First Hill Park

A playful scuffle, two bear cubs tumbling on the lawn. This is First Hill Park today. Can you picture those rambunctious cubs over a century ago? First Hill Park, nestled in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood, opened in 1987. But its story begins long before, intertwined with the history of the Stimson-Green Mansion next door. Around 1910, the Stimson family, prominent in the logging and lumber industry, received an unusual gift: two orphaned bear cubs. The cubs were raised in the mansion, which stood where First Hill Park now resides. Imagine them, tiny paws padding across the floors, growing larger with each passing day. The cubs became local celebrities, joining the Stimsons on walks through the neighborhood. First Hill Park echoes with this history. As the cubs grew too large for the mansion, they found a new home at the then newly established Woodland Park Zoo. Fast forward to the park’s renovation in 2021. The community, remembering the tale of the bear cubs, desired artwork reflecting this unique piece of First Hill’s past. Sculptor Georgia Gerber, known for her iconic “Rachel the Pig” at Pike Place Market, was commissioned to create a piece. The result? A playful bronze sculpture commemorating those two mischievous cubs. First Hill Park is more than just green space. It’s a living testament to a peculiar chapter in Seattle’s history, a reminder of the time when bear cubs roamed these very grounds.