Of course, being a guy my age, the first Vulcan that comes to mind is Mr. Spock. I learned a lot about logic, loyalty, the greater good and being of service from him as a kid back in the mid 60’s and harbor many fond memories of the charismatic first and science officer.
Though, if you live in the Puget Sound area you’re well aware of another Vulcan and it's HQ here in Seattle. I often drive by The Vulcan Building located between 4th and 5th Avenues where Pioneer Square meets the International District just south of downtown.
Founder Paul Allen (and Microsoft cofounder) oversees his many businesses, investments, and philanthropic interests from here. I’ve become quite fond of the building and enjoy its many moods, depending on the weather and enjoy the reflections in the windows from buildings close by like Centurylink Field.
Vulcan in this case, flattering as it is to be compared to those logical reasoning extraterrestrials of Star Trek fame, is actually named after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. In mythology Vulcan is often seen with a hammer and he yields the power of both destructive and constructive fire.
Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc. is committed to many interests, more than I can list in this short post, but perhaps most notably for many is the redevelopment of South Lake Union, Experience Music Project and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame at the Seattle Center, the Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Sounders.
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