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EVERETT—Inspired by a historic photograph of a young girl overlooking the marina, the Port of Everett’s newest bronze-cast sculpture honors the waterfront’s past while inviting visitors to look ahead to the future as the Port’s Waterfront Place continues to take shape.

Visitors can find the new sculpture, brought to life by Sultan-based artist Kevin Pettelle, at one of the new vistas along the Central Marina esplanade. Pettelle also created the Port’s “Fisherman’s Tribute” sculpture by Scuttlebutt Family Pub and Bluewater Organic Distilling.

The new sculpture is inspired by a well-known 1940s photograph of a young girl gazing out over the small Everett boat harbor between what was then Pier 1 and Pier 2 – an area that is now part of the Port’s international Seaport.

But who is the girl in the photograph? Partners at Historic Everett helped crack the code and determined that the girl in the photo is former Everett resident Kathy Reinell Bowen. Her father, Edward Reinell of famed Reinell Boats, taught classes for the Everett Sail and Power Squadron, socialized with the Everett Yacht Club, and moored the family yacht in a boathouse seen in the top left of the photo. Reinell Boats was known for quick, classic runabouts popular among boaters from Alaska to California.

Bowen said a classmate saw the photograph one day in the Everett Yacht Club and recognized her. She was blown away that her simple family photo had become so iconic to the area. She keeps a copy in a photo album. “I had no idea that it was such a popular photo,” Bowen said. “I saw it and thought, ‘That’s my green plaid jacket, and those are my brown saddle shoes,’” she added.

Bowen visited with Port staff last summer and shared the story behind the image. She was about 4 or 5 years old, and her dad snapped the photo on one of the family’s many weekend visits to the Port. “[My dad] would be working on the boat, and he’d say, ‘Go play, kids’,” she said. “This was our Saturdays.” 

Pettelle used the iconic photo as inspiration to create the Port-commissioned piece. Elements like the girl’s pose, saddle shoes, and plaid jacket closely resemble that of the photograph. Details like the Port’s Waterfront Place logo on coat buttons, and the fanning patina on the scarf that mimics light on water make it unique to the Port of Everett Marina.

The photo has become an icon of an era that saw a rise in boating and an expanding marina in Everett. A nearby interpretive panel explains how boating and industry have evolved since Everett’s early days to today’s Port of Everett Marina – the largest public marina on the West Coast with 2,300 slips and more than 5,000 lineal feet of guest moorage.

Today, the sculpture arrives as the Port’s destination waterfront continues to transform, with growing moorage demand, new mixed-use amenities and businesses, and more than 1.6 million annual site visits in 2025.

Many people see themselves in the photo. Whether it’s a connection to recreational boating, local marine industry, or simply time spent enjoying marina views, the image has become a popular representation of Everett’s roots.

 “We are glad that so many people can see a piece of themselves in this photo – that connection is what makes this piece such a meaningful addition to our expanding waterfront art collection,” said Catherine Soper, Port of Everett Chief of Business Development & Tourism. “It reflects a shared experienced that spans generations and the unique connection we all have to our beautiful waterfront whether in the past or present, and even looking ahead to the future.”

With such a rich history at the Everett waterfront, the Port strives to incorporate historical elements that pay tribute to the industries that built Everett – from boat building and commercial fishing to mills that long ago lined the waterfront. Visitors will find nods to history in place names, streets, exhibits, and other public art installations at the waterfront.

“As a member of Historic Everett, I am pleased that the Port of Everett chooses to showcase Everett waterfront history through the artwork created by local artists,” said Jack O’Donnell, local historian and active member of Historic Everett. “The Little Girl statue is another wonderful example.”

Visitors can learn more about the Port’s history via interpretive panels and exhibits spaced around the waterfront trails, within the Waterfront Center at 1205 Craftsman Way in Everett, and online at www.historiceverettwaterfront.com.

For an immersive experience, visit The Muse Whiskey & Coffee in the historic Weyerhaeuser Building located near the Port’s Boxcar Park (1200 Millwright Loop West Everett, WA 98201) and explore the Port’s virtual history tour via plaques and QR codes around the building that link to relevant information.

Visit www.weyerhaeusermusehistory.com to explore the award-winning virtual museum website.  

Source: Port of Seattle.

Author: Lynnwood Times Staff