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10 Interesting and Strange Facts about Seattle

On Behalf of | Apr 29, 2014 | Interesting

By Pendergast Law on April 29, 2014

It’s safe to say that Seattleites are proud of the unique lifestyle and culture found here in the Emerald City. When many people think of Seattle, their mind inevitably goes to unending rain, abundant coffee shops, grunge music, and the Space Needle. And while these things are a part of our daily lives, there’s so much more that makes up the interesting and strange city of Seattle.

  1. One of the most photographed landmarks in Seattle is giant pink elephant-shaped sign advertising the Elephant Super Car Wash. This sign has been in use since 1956, rotating and illuminating the night sky at the corner of Battery Street and Denny Way.
  2. Next to Venice, Italy, Seattle has the second highest number of glassblowing studios in the entire world.
  3. We’ve turned litter into art with the gum wall in Post Alley. It’s exactly what it sounds like. People began sticking their chewing gum to the wall just outside a theatre and the next thing you know, the entire wall is covered. It may be gross, but over the years, with so many people participating, the wall has gained a kind of street art charm.
  4. Following the Great Fire of 1889, Seattle simply started over again by rebuilding over the wreckage. Today, it’s possible to walk along the original sidewalks and peek into the windows of Old Seattle by taking the Underground Tour.
  5. The Space Needle was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi and was originally known as “The Space Cage.”
  6. Ye Olde Curiosity Shop has been featuring some of the most bizarre and mind-boggling curiosities around, including a preserved cadaver head named Medical Ed, a Fiji Mermaid, two mummies, and plenty of unusual trinkets and souvenirs.
  7. Voodoo Doughnut is one of the go-to destinations for tourists and locals alike. Whether you’d like to indulge in a classic raspberry filled doughnut or feel adventurous and order a bacon covered maple bar, there’s always something new and exciting to taste.
  8. Even bad art has a place in Seattle. The Official Bad Art Museum of Art inside Café Racer features some of the most absurd and unusual art works, such as black velvet paintings, glitter-covered portraits, and more.
  9. An 18-foot-tall troll made of concrete lives under a Seattle underpass. He’s forever clutching a real Volkswagen and receives a new layer of concrete every so often to cover up colorful spray paint and graffiti.
  10. Seattle is home to numerous major companies, including Amazon, UPS, Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, and Costco. There’s little wonder that the Emerald City boasts so many technological careers.

At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite uniquely Seattle facts and locations. If you would like to add more to the list, please visit our Facebook page and leave a comment.