Seattle Worldcon 2025Whenever I have friends visit Seattle, I always direct them to some of the most famous landmarks. Everybody has to walk Pike Place Market at least once, for instance, and of course you at least have to see the Space Needle. If you have time, a visit to Mt. Rainier is mandatory, and if you have extended time, the Olympic National Park is like nowhere else on Earth (an important consideration for any science fiction fan!).
We will get to all of those places and more in this series of essays, but it seems appropriate to start with one of the funkiest local attractions for visitors and locals alike: the Fremont Troll.
“Fremont Troll” by angela n. is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Residing under the Aurora Bridge in Seattle’s always-trendy, close-in Fremont neighborhood, the Troll is a massive 18-foot tall stone statue, an odd, asymmetrical creature who seems like a lost Titan rising out of the pavement, looming under the heavy highway overpass above its head, hand crushing an old Volkswagen whose owners obviously couldn’t answer its riddle.
Visitors are allowed to climb on and around the sculpture, so it’s a perfect place to bring your kids.
You can’t get an idea from photos just how massive and downright odd this sculpture is. The Troll fits Fremont’s famous Bohemian vibe and fun, urban style.
A visit to the Troll can easily be combined with a visit to several other local landmarks. The unique Gasworks Park is within walking distance. Gasworks has its own particular version of public art, and offers amazing views of Lake Union. If you’re curious about our many floating homes, this is a good place to see them.
Just up the street from the Troll is another piece of iconic urban sculpture. Waiting for the Interurban is a life-size cast-aluminum sculpture of a group of people and their dog waiting for a train (the train has long since stopped coming to Fremont, sadly enough). It’s a cute piece of art, and locals often dress the people with stuff like umbrellas, mortarboard hats or Seahawks flags, depending on local happenings.
Situated right on Seattle’s Ship Canal with the famous Burke-Gilman Trail passing through the neighborhood, Fremont is a nice place for a walk or run. Avid runners are probably already aware that Brooks Shoes has a store close to the Interurban where you can buy any sort of gear you might want. Combine that with many inviting restaurants, bookstores, and clothing stores, and this city neighborhood is well worth a few hours of your time while in Seattle.
https://seattlein2025.org/2024/08/26/around-seattle-the-fremont-troll/
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