As I was born in the 70s, I have rich memories of listening to grunge bands in my bedroom in the early 90s. I remember making tapes with my favorite songs so that I could play them back over and over to memorize all the lyrics. Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden were my regular companions during those teenage years. Seattle, the cradle of the grunge movement, holds a mystical charm for me.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Seattle for just a couple of days while running some errands. Unfortunately, it was summer when we visited and we couldn’t find any cheap hotels in Seattle; so we couldn’t stay longer. I was sad to miss visiting the music landmarks of this great city. If I had the chance to visit again, I’d make sure to see all the spots on my Seattle bucket list.
The Crocodile Café
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Back in the day, this was one of the main venues for the grunge scene. Nirvana, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains played here. Today, there are still live music shows. Even if there are no concerts scheduled, it is still worth a visit.
A Sound Garden
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Set on the shore of Lake Washington, A Sound Garden is an art installation created by Douglas R. Hollis on the grounds of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Western Service Center campus. When the wind blows, this huge sculpture whistles and howls. In fact, local band Soundgarden named themselves after this piece.
Black Sun
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Another interesting site for Soundgarden fans, Black Sun is a sculpture by artist Isamu Noguchi. It is said to be the inspiration for one of the band’s most famous songs, “Black Hole Sun.” The sculpture is located across from the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Experience Music Project
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Set in the shadow of the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project is a rock and roll museum with an impressive memorabilia collection. The museum is housed in a colorful building designed by the world-famous architect Frank Gehry. When I visited Seattle, I walked around the building staring in disbelief. This strange-looking building is impossible to miss with its giant metal structure and the Seattle monorail coming in and out of its side.
Inside, the museum is just as extravagant. As you come in, you are greeted by a giant tower of musical instruments. On the third floor, there is an interactive music studio where visitors can try their hand at any instrument. The museum also houses the world’s biggest collection of Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana memorabilia.
Jimi Hendrix Memorial
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Although not technically located in Seattle, the Jimi Hendrix Memorial is easily accessible from the city. Located in Renton, WA, the memorial has lyrics of some of his best songs engraved in its columns and it’s surrounded by purple flowers. It’s a fitting resting place for one of the greatest guitarists to rock the world.
This post is part of the #HipmunkCityLove project
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