Pioneer Information
The son of a florist, Umlauff expressed interest in gardening from his youth. Born in Hamburg, Germany, he immigrated to the United States in 1892 with his uncle’s circus for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. He briefly worked as a cabinetmaker before moving further west, living in New Whatcom (now Bellingham), Washington, before settling in Seattle in 1894. Umlauff initially worked as a gardener for Lake Washington Cable Railroad Company, helping develop the grounds of Leschi Park, as well as caring for the park’s zoo animals. He was particularly fond of giant sequoia, planting at least one in Leschi Park.
After becoming a US citizen in 1913, Umlauff began working for the Seattle department of parks, beginning as a maintenance supervisor in 1914. He also worked as a manager of the Volunteer Park Conservatory and was later elevated to be the city’s head gardener at the department before becoming superintendent in 1921. During his career Umlauff helped maintain and develop many of Seattle’s parks, including Green Lake, Lincoln, Woodland, Volunteer, and Seward Parks. He also oversaw 800 Works Project Administration (WPA) workers during the construction of the Olmsted Brothers’ plan for the arboretum in Washington Park (1926 to the early 30s). Additional designs followed including the landscape surrounding a WPA-built, Italianate shelter house in Colman Playground (1940). He was devoted to public service, continuing to work for the park department until his retirement in 1941, even though he had several offers from private entities.
Umlauff was active in the local horticultural community, delivering lectures on gardening and participating in flower shows, both as a contestant and judge. He passed away at the age of 80. Six years after his death a plaque honoring his contributions to the beautification of Seattle’s parks was installed at the foot of the giant sequoia he planted in Leschi Park.
