Ellensburg History Spotlight: 🪽Rising from the Ashes Tucked in the heart of downtown Ellensburg is a mural that tells the story of resilience — the Rising Phoenix on the side of the historic Davidson Building. 🔥🧡 Originally painted in the 1970s by artist Erik Maakestad, this powerful image was a symbol of rebirth after the Great Ellensburg Fire of 1889, which destroyed much of the downtown area. Like the myth of the phoenix, Ellensburg rose stronger — rebuilding its iconic red-brick charm tha