ABSTRACT
Although efforts to reserve millions of acres in the political domain were underway during the late nineteenth century, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Beck were doing their part to preserve one little corner of the world on the outskirts of Seattle, Washington. In 1887, they bought several parcels of land with giant fir trees reaching 400 feet in height and 20 feet in diameter. The Becks built a pavilion for concerts and nature lectures and added paths, benches, and totem poles. Ravenna Park soon became immensely popular. Visitors paid 25 cents a day or $5 a year ($3 and $60 in 1990 dollars) to enter the park. Even with the fees, 8,000 to 10,000 people visited the park on a busy day. 1
