What was formerly known as Francis Street Park in Port Angeles, Washington, became the 9/11 Memorial Waterfront Park thanks to the installation of a literal piece of history tied to an event that forever changed the United States of America. The landmark highlights what it can mean for a space to be transformed in a way that connects an audience to a legacy that spans regions, eras and entire societies.
Commemorating Safety Personnel and Private Citizens
Originally designed to be a showcase park for local citizenry and visitors, what had been known as Francis Street Park was an urban space that featured incredible views of Vancouver Island and Mt. Baker. This setting provided an ideal location for an even more defined identity that connected it to 9/11, which was the deadliest terrorist attack in history in the United States.
After obtaining a portion of an I-beam from the World Trade Center, the space became known as 9/11 Memorial Waterfront Park in 2011. The piece memorializes the 2,996 public safety personnel and private citizens who died during that day’s attack. Dedicated on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, it was transformed to represent what was lost, what the country learned, and how everyone recovered.
This transformation would also see the installation of markers that recount this legacy as well as a flag pavilion and seal structure, representing additional means of engagement. All of these features provide further connection to a larger legacy that the transformation of the space has defined.
Transforming a Space for the Benefit of the Present and Future
Honoring all of the men and women who dedicated their lives to public safety, 9/11 Waterfront Memorial Park was designed to utilize the established space while also recognizing a significant piece of American history. This transformation showcases what it can mean for a landmark to enable connections that are about something much more for individual audiences and to entire communities.
