Renton got its start as a coal mining town in the late 1800s. There was quite a bit of activity for a while. Eventually the coal petered out, leading to the demise of mining in Renton. This structure is the foundation of the hoisting device that pulled loaded coal cars out of the mine. It is one of very few signs of Renton's coal-mining past.

The road (Benson Road) is a two-lane state highway. On the other side of the road, below an embankment, is the new Sam's Club store, which was under construction when these pictures were taken. Just down the street is Renton City Hall. Photography took place in September 2003. The monument is located at the center of this Bing Mpas aerial view (it looks like a rectangular concrete structure).

UPDATE IN AUGUST 2012:

In Spring 2012, Washington’s Department of Transportation (WADOT) completed construction of a southbound off-ramp for I-405 that feeds into Talbot Road. That construction caused Benson Road to be moved to the other side of the monument, making the monument less visible and less accessible. The off-ramp was built on top of the road seen in these pictures.

Access is much less convenient now: the only place to park is a small gravel turn-out just south of the area, but on the far side of the road. The new parking area, which is not identified with signs, seems like an an afterthought rather than something that exists for the monument.