Here There Be Monsters: Monstrous Creatures at the Port of Seattle

The Port of Seattle is most known as operating Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Fishermen's Terminal, home of the North Pacific Fishing Fleet, as well as container terminals, recreational marinas, warehouses and parks. But, did you also know the Port is also home to some fearsome mythological monsters?  

It is true! At various Port Properties, if you know where to look you can find dragons, unicorns, bears, black cats, and even a seemingly possessed monkey doll. Don’t believe me? Let me introduce you to some of the monstrous and wonderous denizens that call the Port of Seattle home and where you can find them.

Monsters of Shilshole Bay Marina 

Shilshole Bay Marina, is one of the premier marinas in Seattle. Home to over 1,400 monthly and live aboard moorage customers, the marina inhabits a nearly one mile stretch of protected harbor, far below the city bluffs. At Shilshole you will find coffee shops, restaurants and easy access to Seattle’s north-end Maritime District of Ballard. Visitors will have fun exploring the local parks, walking paths, and enjoying stunning Olympic Mountain views.

It's perfect for boaters; simply navigated, with wide fairways, a fuel dock, power, and protected by a strong breakwater. But that's not all you will find protecting the marina. If you look closely, you will see some monstrous creatures that call the marina home. 

Shilly the Sea Monster 

Residing on the breakwater is Shilly the Sea Monster. The sea monster was conceived of, built and installed on the Shilshole Bay Marina breakwater by Al Hughes. He is a long time liveaboard tenant who created a unique decoration for the Christmas ship festival in 1999. Initially intended as a temporary work, the public reaction was very positive, and Shilly has become a signature part of the Shilshole Community. 

Over the years, Shilly has had various names including Cecil, the Dragon, the Monster, Shilly the Sea Serpent, and others.  She has been the subject of additions from time to time including flying the US flag and an Uncle Sam mask for Independence Day, a pumpkin head for Halloween, an arm holding a Seahawks 12 flag for some time during football season and Christmas lights.

If you can't get out on a boat the best place to view Shilly is along the walking path between docks K and L near the Shilshole Bay Marina Office.

• "Shilly Monster" by Al Hughes, 1999
• Commissioned by Leif Erikson International Foundation
• Location: Shilshole Bay Marina, Breakwater 

Skel the Skeletal Warrior 

Skel was the brainchild of Bern Miller, another longtime liveaboard resident of Shilshole Bay Marina in 2004. Skel morphed from a Spanish Conquistador styled figure to the current steel skeleton structure primarily through the work of Dave Norman who painstakingly cut out hundreds of metal bones after modeling him first in balsa wood.  

Al Hughes helped him with some welding and on the installation finally in 2005. Skel also has moved south from his original position north of Shilly to his current locale as the artist moved as well and wanted to be able to still see him. He is sometimes called the dragon slayer, but please don't mention that to Shilly.

If you can't get out on a boat the best place to view Skel, which is just south of Shilly, is along the walking path between docks J and K near the Shilshole Bay Marina Office.

• "Skel" by Bern Miller and Dave Norman, 2004
• Commissioned by Leif Erikson International Foundation
• Location: Shilshole Bay Marina, Breakwater 

Norse Runic Dragons 

Due south of the Shilshole Bay Marina Office you will find the Leif Erickson Plaza, anchored by August Werner's Leif Erickson Statute. The statue  was commissioned by the Leif Erikson International Foundation, an organization dedicated to the study, education, and promotion of Scandinavian culture and building connections between Scandinavians and Americans, for the 1962 World’s Fair and after the fair moved to its permanent home at the marina. 

If you visit the plaza, be careful, for here there be dragons! Surrounding the statue are 14 upright basalt stones, each with plaques with the names of over 2,300 Scandinavian immigrants and their hometowns. The stones are also emblazoned with Viking runic-like carvings created by master caver, Jay Haavik. Carved into the stones are symbolic designs, fighting horses, bronze age boat motifs, biting snakes and not one but two dragons! His inspiration for the designs on the stones comes from his study of Scandinavian runestones carved between the 10th and 12th centuries.

Jay Haavikv creates works of art in the Pacific Northwest Coast Indian and Viking styles. He offers carved sculptures, panels, masks, bentwood containers, totem poles, prints, paintings, and fine furniture. Rooted in mythology and themes of nature, he explores the universal relationship between man and the natural world. 

• Nordic Rune Carvings by Jay Haavik, 2008
• Commissioned by Leif Erikson International Foundation
• Location: Shilshole Bay Marina, Leif Erickson Plaza

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

One of North America's busiest airports may seem to be an unlikely place to find monstrous creatures. So you may be surprised to find to that it is the lair of multiple dragons, enchanted dolls, a phantasmagoric menagerie as well as one lucky cat, but it is true. The next you find yourself at SEA Airport, take some time and explore the airport, you may be surprised and delighted with what you discover. Or if you aren't traveling anytime soon, but really want to see these creatures for your self, check out our SEA Visitor Pass Program and it allows you onto the secure side of the terminal without having to fly.  

Double Dragon Column 

Starting your hunt for the fantastical fauna of SEA Airport on Concourse A between gates A3 and A4. Across from the gates near the Checkpoint 1 you you will discover a column with two dragons crafted in mosaic. The two linear Chinese dragons dance in a field of convex spheres and twirl across a decorated background filled with bas relief designs. A red dragon faces north while a green dragon faces south. The colors of the dragons are not without intention. In Chinese tradition, the red dragon is associated with luck, creativity, and enthusiasm. Green dragons symbolize rest, prosperity, and harmony. The dragons simultaneously refer to nature, the cosmos, and inner states of consciousness. The Chinese styled dragons pay homage to Seattle as a major port of entry to and from Asia, as well as, honoring the significant Asian-American population in the region. 

This work is created by Amy Cheng and is entitled “In Memory of My Father.” Although Cheng’s father did not live to see the finished piece, he was proud that Amy included elements of Chinese culture in the design. These playful dragons are part of the Nine Columns/Nine Artists project. A public art project that gave Nine different artists the chance to design one of nine columns on Concourse A. Using a variety of media, from photography and collage to computer graphics and watercolor paint, the artists from around the nation designed images that would be translated into the mosaics on the columns. Each column has a circumference of 9.5 feet, and they range in height from around 10 feet to 30 feet tall. 

• "In Memory of My Father" by Amy Cheng, 2004
• Commissioned by Port of Seattle and Art4Culture
• Location: SEA Airport, Concourse A, near gates A3 and A4

Monkey Shines

The next stop on your hunt for unusual creatures is hidden in the a colorful, 80-foot-long, Rube Goldberg-style kinetic musical contraption "On: Matter, Monkeys and the King," created by the Seattle-based multimedia artist, Trimpin. The work is constructed from found objects. In the middle of the piece, near the bottom if you look closely you will see one of the found objects that makes it up is a monkey doll that is very reminiscent of the creepy covers of Stephen King’s Monkey Shines and the subsequent 1988 film adaptation by horror master, George Romero. When the piece is moving you can see the monkey animated and move seemingly on his own.

The work is witty and charming, embodying both sound and rhythm, that explores of the concepts of sound, vision and movement, experimenting with combinations that will introduce our senses of perception to a totally new experience. The colorful shapes you see on the roof modulate in different ways the sound originating from within the glass case. Currently the work isn’t operating, but soon our monkey friend will be banging his cymbals again to the delight and possible discomfort of some onlookers.  

• "On: Matter, Monkeys and the King" by Trimpin, 2004
• In the Port of Seattle Art Catalog
• Location: SEA Airport, Concourse A, near gates A6 and A7 

Dragons, Unicorns, and Bears, oh my...

At the very end of Concourse A you will discover yet even more dragons! Plus unicorns, whales, bears, lions and many other fierce beasts.

Next to and above gate A14 you will find covering most of the window curtain wall an enamel painting of a cozy couple asleep and dreaming in a tower-house while surrounded by phantasmagoric constellations, the sun and moon animate a radiant night sky. The couple’s dreams contain a stellar constellation of dragons, unicorns, rams, bears and other creatures. This is the astounding work, “I Was Dreaming of Spirit Animals” by Cappy Thompson.

Thompson is recognized as the leading master in the field of American transparent enameling art. This work highlights Thompson’s interest in dreams and mythology and her methods of incorporating diverse inspirations for her glass work (including Medieval stained glass, Sufi stories, Persian folktales and Native American myths). While employing the medieval technique of grisaille glass painting, this artwork was created as a state-of the art curtain wall. It is the largest painted glass window in existence at 90 feet by 33 feet. Commissioned by the Port of Seattle and Fabricated at Derix Glasstudios, a family-run glass studio in Taunusstein-Wehen, Germany. 

For more check out the short documentary about the creation and meaning of the work: Dreaming of Spirit Animals, 2004, directed by Sally Cloninger

Dreaming Of Spirit Animals from Sally Cloninger on Vimeo.

• "I Was Dreaming of Spirit Animals" Cappy Thompson, 2003
• Commissioned by the Port of Seattle 
• Location: SEA Airport, Concourse A, near gate A14

Lucky 13 Deicer 

One final fantastical animal you may encounter at the airport only comes out in the cold chill of winter. Keep your eye on the airfield when aircraft are being deiced and you may be luck enough to spot Deicier #13 and the black cat, named Lucky 13,  that rides along keeping aircraft safe and operations.  

To many the number 13 can give people pause, so to reflect that with and give the observant few a bit of surprise and delight, the Aviation Sign Shop designed Lucky to decorate the vehicle. The design was later painted by the paint crew.

The next time you’re on a flight in the winter keep your eye open and you might howl with delight if you're lucky enought to spot this cat. After all it is the only one allowed on the airfield. 

As you can see, the Port of Seattle has many hidden gems, and these fantastical creatures are but a few. If you want more, here are some more things to discover about The Port of Seattle:

• Five Favorites from the Sea-Tac Public Art Collection - learn more about these and other artworks at the Airport
• Creepy Critters of the Port - Find out what creepy critters live on Port Property
• What Lies Beneath - Find out what lurks below in the depths of Elliott Bay

You’re not flying but want to see the pieces of art described here?

No problem! Take advantage of our SEA Visitor Pass Program and check out these and other amazing artwork in our collection, as well as check out some great restaurants and retailers at SEA Airport. Learn more about the program and how you can participate!