Seattle Attractions
Unusual Landmarks

What's not to love about Seattle's quirkier side? The Space Needle isn't the only peculiar attraction to explore. Toss aside the usual tourist attractions and have fun discovering the unique and unusual landmarks, statues and architecture that the Emerald city has to offer.

The Fremont RocketThe Fremont Rocket. Located at Evanston Ave N and N 35th S.

A unique landmark monument constructed from a 1950's cold war rocket. The Rocket bears the Fremont crest and motto, "De Libertas Quirkas" which means "Freedom to be Peculiar."

The Fremont Troll (Pictured above) N. 36th & Troll Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98103.

Also known as The Troll and the Troll Under the Bridge, this is a colossal statue located under the north end of the Aurora Bridge that actually clutches a real Volkswagen Beetle with California license plates.

The Gum Wall
Located outside the Market Theater at Pike Place Market in Post Alley, the Gum Wall is a brick wall covered in several inches thick of used chewing gum. Back in the early 1900's, people would stick their chewed gum on the wall outside the theater as they waited for tickets. The wall was scraped clean twice jus to find that it was cover in gum again. What else can be done but declare the wall as a tourist attraction. To find the infamous Gum Wall, find the giant size piggy bank outside the fish market. Take the staircase on the right down to Post Alley.

Hammering Man. Located at the entrance of the Seattle Art Museum at 1300 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101. Phone: 206-654-3100.

Created by Jonathan Borofsky, this giant statue reaches 48 feet (14.6m) tall and weighs in at an astonishing 26,000 pounds. The Hammering Man silently hammers four times a minute, from 7am to 10pm every day. One Labor Day, a group of artists attached a temporary ball and chain in a comical protest.

Hat n' Boots
Located in Oxbow Park, Georgetown's most famous landmark is where a premium Tex Texaco gas station was built in the 1950's. The giant red cowboy hat served as the office and the elaborately painted cowboy boots housed the restrooms.

Jimi Hendrix Commemorative Statue. 900 E. Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122.

Located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, the Jimi Hendrix statue shows this local artist on his knees playing his guitar with all his soul. Local artist Daryl Smith created the bronze statue from photos of Hendrix in the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

Lenin Statue in Fremont

Lenin Statue in Fremont. 600 N. 36th, Seattle, WA 98103.

An American teaching in Slovakia, Lewis Carpenter, found this statue lying in a scrapyard ready to be sold for the price of the bronze. Recognizing the skill of the Slavic artist Emil Venkov, Carpenter mortgaged his home to purchased the cast bronze statue for preservation. This one of a kind sculpture took a decade to complete and weighs over 7 tons and is 16 feet (5m) tall. You'll find this work of art at the Artist’s Republic of Fremont.

The Smith Tower. 506 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone: 206-622-4004.

One of the world’s first skyscrapers constructed by Lyman Cornelius Smith, the Smith Tower opened on July 4, 1914. At the time, it was the fourth tallest building in the world and weighed 48,650 tons. It remained the tallest building west of the Mississippi River for almost 50 years.

Space NeedleSpace Needle
The Seattle Center is home to the 60-foot-tall (185m) Space Needle, which officially opened on April 21, 1962 - the first day of the Fair. The Space Needle features an observation deck, restaurant and cocktail bar within its "Jetsons style" top rotating 360 degree for the most amazing view, and it still is prominent on the city's skyline as Seattle's most recognizable landmark. The "Needle" and the Seattle Center can be reached by a 90-second monorail ride from downtown's Westlake shopping center.

Tilikum Place. E-mail
The statue of Chief Seattle stands here "waving at the buildings on Cedar Street.

Waiting for the Interurban. N. 34th Street and Fremont Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98103.

Created by Richard Beyer this piece depicts five people under a shelter and a curious dog, with a human face. Made from cast aluminum, the statue has many unique costumes shall we say. Anyone may decorate the sculpture as long as there are no corporate messages and you clean up your display when you finish. Remember to take a photo of your creation and send it to or drop it off at the History House down the street at 790 N.34th Street. Please include your name to receive credit as it may be showcased.

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