McGraw Square: Seattle's Tiny Plaza and Streetcar Stop

Frequently asked questions

The bronze statue depicts John Harte McGraw, a former King County Sheriff and Governor of Washington. It was sculpted by Richard E. Brooks and unveiled on July 22, 1913.

McGraw Square covers about 0.01 acre, making it one of the smallest parks in Seattle's system. The original parcel the city acquired in 1911 measured 660 square feet.

Yes. A 2010 Seattle Department of Transportation project expanded the plaza over part of Westlake Avenue and incorporated the South Lake Union Streetcar terminus. The new plaza opened on February 9, 2011.

Yes. The statue was designated a Seattle Landmark on May 6, 1985.

McGraw Square is at Westlake Avenue North and Stewart Street in the Denny Triangle, part of downtown Seattle. It sits between the Times Square Building to the west and the Medical Dental Building to the east.

A bronze governor on a tall granite base stands above a small square of downtown pavement where the South Lake Union Streetcar ends its run. This is McGraw Square, a small public plaza at Westlake Avenue North and Stewart Street in Seattle's Denny Triangle. At about 0.01 acre, it ranks among the smallest parks in the city system, and its 1913 statue of Governor John Harte McGraw is a Seattle Landmark.

Meet the Bronze Governor at Stewart and Westlake

Start with the centerpiece, a bronze figure of John Harte McGraw, who served as King County Sheriff and later as Governor of Washington. After McGraw died in 1910, sculptor Richard E. Brooks was commissioned to create the memorial, and the finished statue was unveiled on July 22, 1913.

Look up and you will see why it is so easy to spot from the sidewalk. The figure stands roughly 6 feet tall and about 4 feet wide and deep, and it sits on a granite base of around 7 feet by 6.5 feet by 6.5 feet, lifting the whole piece well above street level. The statue has been a designated Seattle Landmark since May 6, 1985.

Read the full guide

How the Square Began

The plaza's small scale goes back to its start as a 660-square-foot parcel that the City of Seattle acquired in 1911, with plans for a public square designed by the Olmsted Brothers. That modest footprint is the reason the park is still measured in hundredths of an acre today.

The 2011 Plaza and Streetcar Stop

The square grew in late 2010, when the Seattle Department of Transportation extended the plaza over a section of Westlake Avenue and folded in the nearby South Lake Union Streetcar terminus. Today the space works as both a memorial and a transit stop.

A mobility grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation covered the $900,000 expansion. The enlarged plaza opened to the public on February 9, 2011, designed with room for tables and food trucks.

Finding the Square in the Denny Triangle

Head for the spot where several downtown streets come together. Stewart Street forms the northern edge, 5th Avenue and the Times Square Building sit to the west, and Olive Way and the Medical Dental Building line the east.

Since the streetcar ends right here, the square makes a natural starting point for a ride north toward South Lake Union. To get to know the surrounding blocks, explore our Denny Triangle neighborhood guide.

Landmarks a Short Walk Away

Historic buildings and other small public spaces surround the square, all less than a tenth of a mile away:

Times Square Building, framing the west side of the square
Medical Dental Building, on the east side along Olive Way
Seattle Monorail, a downtown landmark close by
Lloyd Building, another nearby landmark
Frederick and Nelson Building, also a short walk away
Westlake Square, a similar small open space one block north

Pair McGraw Square with Westlake Square for a quick look at two of downtown's tiniest parks, then keep exploring with our guide to all parks in Seattle.

Before You Go

Think of McGraw Square as a pass-through space rather than a place to linger for hours. Plan on a few minutes to see the statue and take in the setting, or simply use it as your boarding point for the streetcar. For current details on the park, check with Seattle Parks and Recreation.