The chewing gum Wall is one of the most unusual attractions in Seattle. It is a brick wall of the Market Theater, covered with gum and located next to the Pike Place Market. This is not the work of modern artists, but the work of ordinary people who left their chewing gums here.
History of creation
In 1933, theater audiences, including students, began gluing coins to the wall of the building with chewing gum while waiting in line for tickets to the performance. Other people joined this "tradition" – not only theater visitors, but also passers-by. As a result, a rubber band layer was formed that is more than 15 meters long and 4 and a half meters wide, with a thickness of several inches.
The administration of the cultural institution initially struggled with the habit of young people leaving their chewing gum on the wall, but this did not lead to anything. In 1999, they stopped being removed, and since then the wall has become a tourist attraction. The chewing gum wall looks picturesque, unofficially called the most unhygienic part of Seattle.
Short description
The chewing gum wall is associated with a youth protest against the rules. According to one version, they were not allowed to come to the theater with chewing gum, and then young people began to glue it on the wall as a sign that they did not like this condition. According to another version, the queue for tickets was long, and people began to get bored. To amuse themselves, they started taping the wall. There is also an assumption that the previous versions are just legends, as this is an art project of one of the theater groups. Initially, a figure was assembled from chewing gum, but over time it became invisible, because almost every day someone leaves their gum here.
Special status
The Chewing Gum Wall is a Seattle landmark that, like other sites, is under protection. If someone tries to remove the attached rubber bands, it will be considered a violation of public order. This place is known all over the world, it became more popular after the premiere of the movie "Love happens". The scene of the melodrama, which was released in 2009 with Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston in the lead roles, was filmed against the background of the controversial attraction. It is symbolic that in the same year, the landmark was recognized as the second most unhygienic tourist attraction after the Stone of Eloquence (according to legend, whoever kisses the stone will have oratorical abilities). It is noteworthy that in 2015, for the first time, they decided to completely clean the chewing gum wall. In order not to spoil the brickwork, where the colorful exhibits were attached, the workers used steam. Despite the fact that a ton of chewing gum was removed, the landmark's status, although questionable, has been preserved. Over time, she became covered in chewing gums again.
How to get
The chewing gum Wall is located near the Pike Place Market, also known as the Pike Market. Buses stop nearby. 4, 62, 70, 177, 550. The attraction is open on Post Alley Lane, you need to focus on the neon sign of the Public Market cinema to the left of the entrance to Pike Place Market.
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