Seattle, WA

The life-size statue dates from 1926-36, created by mosaic craftsman John Giovanni Braida to promote his tile business in Fremont. Braida and his employees spent nearly a decade building and embellishing the elephant.

The family sold the elephant in 1946, and businessman Denny Grindall got a great deal -- $500 -- to represent his Aurora Avenue flower shop.

In 2007 the flower shop and restaurant were converted into Aurora Rents (equipment rental).

Gil Braida, grandson of John Braida, sent us a more accurate history and a recent article from Seattle's Metropolitan Magazine. He writes: "Our fourth generation family owned company, now Braida Fremont Incorporated, has a photographic record of the Elephant's construction. For the Braida Family, the Elephant is a family heirloom that should have never been allowed to escape captivity."