MYNORTHWEST HISTORY

Exclusive: Sneak peek at Elephant Car Wash sign

Nov 4, 2022, 11:00 AM | Updated: 11:38 am

The Elephant Car Wash sign – the larger of two elephant-themed signs which stood at the former car wash – has had its neon tubes replaced and restored, and is now in storage at MOHAI.

This larger sign stood at the north side of the car wash along Denny Way from 1956 to 2020 and, when it was functioning properly, rotated slowly by way of a hidden electric motor. A smaller non-rotating version of the sign, which stood at the south end of the car wash, now belongs to Amazon and was recently designated a City of Seattle landmark.

Museum officials (who took formal possession of the large sign in 2020) are studying several options for displaying the giant electric pachyderm at some point in the future, but there are no firm plans and no firm date as yet.

You can hear Feliks every Wednesday and Friday morning on Seattle’s Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O’Brien, read more from him here, and subscribe to The Resident Historian Podcast here. If you have a story idea, please email Feliks here.

MyNorthwest History

Paul Dorpat...

Feliks Banel

Historic regional treasure Paul Dorpat dies after 87 years

Historic regional treasure Paul Dorpat has died after 87 years.

2 months ago

millionaire's tax ferguson heywood...

KIRO Newsradio staff

‘Not something I take lightly’: WA Democrats tap rainy day fund, proposed ‘millionaire tax’ to close budget gap

Washington Democrats reveal a supplemental budget plan addressing the deficit with a millionaire tax and rainy day fund usage.

5 months ago

Police officers responding to a suspect's violent rampage at Harborview get details about what happ...

Tom Brock

Suspect arrested following violent rampage at Harborview’s Emergency Room

Seattle police report a chaotic scene at the Harborview Emergency Room, where a patient went on a violent rampage over the weekend.

5 months ago

Martin Luther King Jr. Day...

Terry Tang, The Associated Press

The long struggle to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On the third Monday of January, federal, state and local governments recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

6 months ago

Venezuela...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Astonishing, audacious’: Retired 4-star general praises Venezuela operation, but asks: What’s next?

Retired general commends Maduro's capture but questions the next steps for U.S. strategy in Venezuela's evolving political landscape.

7 months ago

Seattle Spotify Wrapped...

Jason Sutich

Spotify Wrapped 2025: Seattle’s top artists, songs, albums revealed

The 2025 edition of Spotify Wrapped was revealed on Wednesday, with a complete list of Seattle's go-to choices for artists, songs, and albums in 2025.

8 months ago

Exclusive: Sneak peek at Elephant Car Wash sign