In March 2016, Seattle witnessed a scene as peculiar as it was gripping: a man named Cody Lee Miller scaled an 80-foot sequoia tree next to Macy’s on 4th and Stewart and remained perched at the top for nearly 24 hours.
This unexpected standoff drew crowds, garnered extensive media attention, and brought in a substantial police and fire presence.
Onlookers watched with bated breath as Miller navigated the towering branches, refusing to come down. After hours of suspense, he finally descended and was promptly taken to a hospital for evaluation.
The event became an unforgettable chapter in Seattle’s history, capturing the city’s imagination and sparking conversations about mental health, public safety, and the
unpredictable events that occasionally turn everyday life into something extraordinary. Eight years later, the “Man in Tree” incident remains an unusual yet defining moment for Seattle, remembered by those who were there and immortalized in local lore.