Take an Audio Walking Tour
by Jack Straw productions
With the weather warming up again, why not try out Seattle's first
neighborhood public art and culture self-guided audio tour? The
University District Arts and Heritage (UDAH) Committee launched the
audio tour produced by Jack Straw Productions in July 2001. The
public can check out the free audio tour kit from four venues in the
University District. The kit consists of the audio tour on CD, a
portable CD-player, a walking tour map and a pouch.
The audio tour CD features historians, architects and artists sharing
their knowledge of the art and architecture of the University District
that reflect the area's rich and vibrant history. These highlights
give us clues to the changing social events, fashions, and ideas that
were shared in the neighborhood over time. The audio tour spans from
the mid-1800s when the first homestead was filed; to 1895, when the
University of Washington moved into the district from downtown
Seattle; to the tumultuous 1960s; and through to the present.
The 33 corresponding sites on the map and audio tour were carefully
selected by members of the UDAH committee, together with architects,
historians and artists, for their historical significance to the
district. The tracks on the audio tour CD are numbered according to
the map and users can select whichever site they would like
information on. The map and audio tour cover the area between North
Lake Union and NE Ravenna Boulevard, bounded by Seventh Ave NE and
Montlake Boulevard.
Audio tour users can begin at any point on the map and either follow
the order of the CD tracks or customize their own tour. The CD is just
over 60 minutes in length. The whole walk can take up to 5 hours, but
participants can easily choose their favorites for a shorter walk.
Jack Straw Producer/engineer Sylvia Jones interviewed over 20 members
of the community for the audio tour. "I was surprised and pleased at
how generous the interviewees were with their time, and the lengths
they went to help me find facts and information on the U District.
People who hold stories about the area are excited to share their
knowledge of what they feel is a very historically important part of
Seattle."
Her interviewees included prominent Seattle sculptor Gerard Tsutakawa;
local resident and long-time community activist, Patty Whisler;
professional actor and Associate Professor at the University of
Washington School of Drama, Mark Jenkins; owner of the College Inn,
Ron Bozarth; and architect Roger Wagoner, among others.
The University District audio tour project is the prototype for all
interested Seattle communities who would like to document their
history and promote pedestrianism.
Jack Straw Productions can be contacted at Ph: (206) 634-0919 or
email: jsp@jackstraw.org.
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