Gum Wall

The Gum Wall is a brick wall in Post Alley, beneath Pike Place Market at 1428 Post Alley in Seattle, Washington, covered in thousands of pieces of used chewing gum in many colours. The tradition reportedly began in the early 1990s, when theatre patrons waiting in line for a nearby performance started sticking gum to the wall, and it grew until it covered much of the alley's brickwork, in a layer that in places is several inches thick. The market staff cleaned the wall in 2015, removing a large quantity of gum, but visitors quickly began adding new pieces. Today it is one of the most unusual and most photographed sights in the city, and it is frequently listed among the world's germiest attractions, which adds to the curiosity. Visitors typically spend 10 to 15 minutes taking photographs, with selfies against the colourful wall especially popular. The wall is reached from the Market via Post Alley, near the Market Theater, and is free and open at all times. It is usually combined with a visit to Pike Place Market, whose fish throwers, flower stalls and original Starbucks are nearby. Crowds are heavy in the daytime, especially on summer weekends and when cruise ships are in port, and the alley is narrow, so the line can build. Early morning is quieter. Visitors who add gum should expect a sticky experience, and those with young children may want to keep hands clean. Link light rail serves Westlake or University Street stations, from which it is a walk downhill to the Market. Because the wall is a tight alley, the best photographs use a wide-angle lens or phone camera. Evening visits are possible but the alley can feel dim.