Bethesda in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Raven and the Sun
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 23, 2014
1. Raven and the Sun Marker
The carvings on this bench depict a story from the Salish people of the northwestern United States and British Columbia, Canada. The story explains how Raven delivered the sun, moon, stars, and fire to humanity. These treasures are necessary for human survival, but came at the cost of Raven’s suffering. A powerful shaman, hostile toward people, had kept them hidden beneath the sea. Raven, disguised as a white owl, was able to win the shaman’s trust and grab the treasures. Raven then released them one by one for the benefit of humanity. When Raven carried the Sun his feathers were burned black and his claws shriveled, because he had to carry it so high and so long before he let it go in the sky.This bench and carvings are from a western red cedar tree used for the 9/11 Pentagon totem pole.
Symbols and colors on this bench:
Sun: Healing energy, guardian of the earth by day
Raven: Creation and knowledge—bringer of the light
Red: Blood, valor
Black: Power
White: Skies and spacious heavens
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans
this page online
Location. 38° 59.758′ N, 77° 5.862′ W. Marker is in Bethesda, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker can be reached from Wisconsin Avenue (Route 355) 0.1 miles south of Center Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in front of the National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 38 Center Drive, Bethesda MD 20814, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Totem For Healing (here, next to this marker); Bear and the Steelhead (here, next to this marker); Tree of Hippocrates (a few steps from this marker); President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the NIH Bethesda campus on this site, October 31, 1940 (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Louis Stokes Laboratories (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Centennial Anchor (approx. 0.3 miles away); From Trolley to Trail: A Brief History (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Spring House & Pool of Bethesda (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bethesda.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 23, 2014
2. Raven and the Sun Marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 23, 2014
3. Raven and the Sun Bench
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 14, 2013
4. The Woman with the Basket and the Raven and Sun Bench
Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 402 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 11, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
