Fremont Troll

A giant Troll lurks under a Seattle bridge overpass

Category Follies and Grottoes

Follies and Grottoes http://atlasobscura.com/category/architectural-oddities/follies-and-grottoes

An 18-ft. tall troll made of cement clutchs an old VW car underneath this Seattle overpass. The car is an actual Volkswagen encased in concrete; it bears a California license plate.

The Troll was constructed in 1990 after winning a Fremont Arts Council competition for designs to improve the freeway underpass that was a dumping ground. He was sculpted by four local artists: Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead.

The troll has had a rough go of it, and is often getting spraypainted, the last incident involving giving the troll green fingernails, tattoos, fangs, and a green eye.

The paint can't be easily removed from the troll and to cover it a fresh layer of concrete is added every time, so over time the troll has been growing blobby concrete lumps. While painting it is poor form, climbing on it is encouraged.

See an error? Know more? Edit this place.

  • Hours 24x7
  • Address under the Fremont bridge (Auorora Ave rte 99), Seattle, Washington, United States
  • Cost $0
Sources
  • Seattle travel guides
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Comments

  • admin& admin December 8, 2009
    Thanks for the heads up anon, it has been corrected!
  • & Anonymous December 8, 2009
    That map isn't accurate. The Troll is located on the north end of the Aurora Bridge where the 99 crosses the canal just west of Lake Union.
  • & Anonymous June 18, 2009
    It should be noted that the Fremont Troll now has a Twitter. He can be found at http://twitter.com/fremont_troll.
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