Lake View in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Kwanusila
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 2, 2016
1. Kwanusila Marker
Kwanusila, the Thunderbird, is an authentic Kwagulth Indian totem pole, carved in red cedar by Tony Hunt of Port Rupert, British Columbia.
The crests carved upon the totem pole represent Kwanusila, the Thunderbird, a whale with a man on its back, and a sea monster.
Kwanusila is an exact replica of the original Kraft Lincoln Park totem pole, which was donated to the City of Chicago by James L. Kraft on June 20, 1929, and which stood on this spot until October 9, 1985.
Kwanusila is Dedicated to the school children of Chicago, and was presented to the City of Chicago by Kraft, Inc. on May 21, 1986.
Erected 1986 by Kraft, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion • Native Americans. A significant historical date for this entry is May 21, 1986.
Location. 41° 56.937′ N, 87° 38.547′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Lake View. Marker is on North Recreation Drive near West Addison Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3510 North Recreation Drive, Chicago IL 60657, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Waveland Clock Tower (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dra. Antonia Pantoja (approx. 0.4 miles away); Oscar Wilde (approx. 0.4 miles away); Audre Lorde (approx. 0.4 miles away);
this page online
Also see . . . Lakefront Totem Pole Contains Many Tales - Gapers Block. Many Chicagoans had their first contact with the Kwakiutl during the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. George Hunt, a Tlinglit Indian who was raised Kwakiutl, was charged by organizers of the fair to help put together an exhibit of the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. Hunt collected hundreds of objects for the Exposition, including a house and a number of carved poles, and traveled to Chicago in April of 1893 with a group of 17 Kwakiutl Indians from Fort Rupert, British Columbia. An entire Indian "village" was erected on the fair grounds where the Kwakiutl demonstrated their ceremonial dances, arts and other traditions. (Submitted on May 3, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 2, 2016
2. Kwanusila totem pole and Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 2, 2016
3. Kwanusila totem pole
A. & P. Photo, published by Gerson Bros., circa 1925
4. Totem Pole, Lincoln Park, Chicago
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 582 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 3, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on September 8, 2021.
