Tilikum Place: Belltown Plaza and Chief Seattle Statue

Frequently asked questions

Tilikum Place is at 2701 5th Ave in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. The triangular plaza sits where 5th Avenue, Cedar Street and Denny Way intersect.

The life-size statue of Chief Seattle was created by local sculptor James Wehn. It is the plaza's best-known feature.

Tilikum is a Chinook Jargon word meaning "people" or "friend." It is often mistranslated as "greetings" or "welcome."

The 5 Point Cafe faces the plaza. Tilikum Place itself has public tables and benches for sitting outdoors.

The Space Needle is about 0.2 mile from Tilikum Place. The Seattle Monorail and Pacific Science Center are also close by.

A life-size Chief Seattle stands at the center of a small triangle of pavement where 5th Avenue, Cedar Street and Denny Way come together. This is Tilikum Place, a compact Belltown plaza at 2701 5th Ave, best known for its statue of Chief Seattle. The ground here also marks the spot where three of the city's founding land claims once met, which gives this little corner a surprising story.

Meet the Chief Seattle Statue

Make the statue your first stop. Local sculptor James Wehn created this life-size figure of Chief Seattle, the Suquamish leader who gave the city its name, and the work is recognized as a Seattle landmark in its own right.

Because the plaza is so compact, you can spot the statue easily from the surrounding sidewalks. Pause here as you walk between Belltown and the Seattle Center area, since it sits naturally along the way.

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Where Three Pioneer Land Claims Met

Look around and you are standing on ground that played a role in Seattle's early layout. The site once marked the junction of the land claims of Arthur Denny, William Nathaniel Bell and Carson Boren, three of the city's early settlers.

That meeting of claims explains the odd angles you notice here. The plaza takes its triangular shape from the intersection of 5th Avenue, Cedar Street and Denny Way, right where the street grids come together.

What the Name Tilikum Means

The name comes from Chinook Jargon, where tilikum means "people" or "friend." You may hear it translated as "greetings" or "welcome," but that version is a mistake, and even the city government has repeated it over the years.

Take a Seat at Tilikum Place

Grab one of the several public tables or benches for a short break, a coffee or a quick lunch outdoors. Lighting was added to the plaza in 2008.

The 5 Point Cafe faces the plaza, so it is easy to pair a meal with a few quiet minutes beside the statue. For anything beyond the basics, check with Seattle Parks and Recreation for current details.

Landmarks a Short Walk Away

Use Tilikum Place as your starting point for exploring the edge of Belltown and the Seattle Center grounds. Several landmarks sit within a few blocks:

Seattle Monorail: catch sight of the elevated line less than 0.1 mile from the plaza.
Seattle-First National Bank: a landmark building under 0.1 mile away.
Space Needle: about 0.2 mile from the plaza.
Pacific Science Center: also about 0.2 mile away.
Horiuchi Mural: roughly 0.2 mile from Tilikum Place.

To keep exploring, browse our guide to the Belltown neighborhood. For more green spaces and plazas around the city, head to all parks in Seattle.