Chief Kno-Tah

Chief Kno-Tah was a 25-foot-tall wooden sculpture depicting the head of a Tualatin leader standing in Shute Park. The carving featured braided hair with feathers and sat on a large concrete foundation visible from across the park grounds.

The sculpture was created in 1987 by artist Peter Wolf Toth as part of his Trail of Whispering Giants series honoring Native American leaders across North America. It commemorated Chief Kno-Tah, who signed a land treaty in 1855 that transferred Tualatin ancestral territory to settlers moving to the region.

The monument honored Chief Kno-Tah of the Tualatin Indians, who signed a treaty in 1855 to transfer ancestral lands to settlers.

The monument was removed from the park in 2017 following storm damage and safety concerns from falling branches. The original site in Shute Park remains accessible to those visiting the area.

The wooden carving weighed roughly 250 tons and was carved from a single Douglas fir log, making it a remarkable example of large-scale wood sculpture. The artist crafted intricate details visible up close, showing techniques uncommonly seen in public monuments across the region.

GPS coordinates: 45.51310,-122.97432

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:00