Memories Made (part 4)

As most of you know, about me, I love to walk and I can walk for miles and miles on end. But my partner in crime chooses to minimize his walking. Therefor, since Fremont is about five miles from downtown Seattle, walking there was not in the picture.

So what's the next best thing to walking?

I know, you are all saying Uber! Lyft! Taxi!

No! No! NO!!

When in Rome do as the Romans!!

Public transportation is the way to go. And Seattle, just like any major city, has a pretty decent public transport, which costs almost nothing.

Twenty minutes later, we are where we want to be. 

You know who is thanking me for this excursions (he shall remain nameless) 😉.

Where is it we want to be.....

Visiting the Freemont Troll!

I know you are going.... What the heck is that?? Why are we looking at this ugly thing?

Well, there is a background to this "ugly" thing.....

"The Fremont Troll was born out of an arts competition in 1989. Seattle had recently started the Neighborhood Matching Fund in an effort to give residents more decision-making power when it came to improvements and projects in their neighborhoods. The Fremont Arts Council received one of those grants for the spot under the Aurora Bridge, and held a design competition for the art installation, decided by a public vote.

Led by sculptor Steve Badanes, and a group of volunteers as part of a city arts, the group was given $20,000 for the project, although it was more like $15,000 after insurance and fees, and construction took about three months. 

 The idea for the troll came from the Norwegian fairy tale Three Billy Goats Gruff, in which a trio of goats must cross a bridge guarded by a fearsome troll. 

The troll was made from a combination of rebar steel, wire and ferrocement—extremely strong cement typically used in boat building."

 The 18 foot art has not only become a popular tourist destination but has also helped transform a small, but noticeable, eyesore within the neighborhood. 

"The hidden-away location had become a dumping ground for everything from mattresses to needles. Although it’s certainly not immune to the errant spray painter today, its giant, menacing presence has helped infuse life into the enclave while also bringing a virtually endless supply of visitors day and night."

 "In the years since the troll was completed, it regularly receives a fresh coat of cement to cover up graffiti. Overall, the popular piece and the many visitors it attracts to that spot under the bridge showcases the impact public art can have on helping to positively transform parts of a city."

Not sure what that guy on the right is doing.... 

.......but there is a story behind the pose in the following photo. 

We won't go into it here, but know that there is at least one photo at each destination we have traveled with that pose... 😆

While the troll was what brought us here, I was quite taken by the construction of the bridge. 

"On February 22, 1932, Seattle's George Washington Memorial Bridge, commonly known as the Aurora Bridge,was dedicated. The nearly 3,000-foot, steel cantilever structure spans Lake Union between the Fremont and Queen Anne neighborhoods and completes the final link of U.S. Highway 99 (decertified in 1967 to State Route 99)  from Canada to Mexico."

"Since construction, there have been over 230 suicides from the bridge, with nearly 50 deaths occurring in the decade 1995–2005. The first suicide occurred on January 20, 1932, when a shoe salesman leapt from the bridge before it was completed.

 In 2007, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire allocated $1.4 million in her supplemental budget for the construction of an 8-foot-high (2.4 m) suicide-prevention fence to help reduce the number of suicides on the bridge. Construction of the fence began in spring 2010 and was completed in February 2011, at a total cost of $4.8 million."

Just West of the Troll sculpture, there is a public park called The Troll Knolls Park, which opened up in 2015. The surrounding community of neighbors created the Friends of the Troll's Knoll organization. Through ongoing clean up innitiatives, park development, and art installations, the organization has dedicated themselves to transforming the Troll Knoll into an active green space where Fremont residents and visitors can enjoy the outdoors. 

Therefor, walking through the area was another "must see" and "must click" objective.

"The park is a model design of a sustainable park space and provides a critical pedestrian link to other areas of Fremont, particularly bus stops and the developing neighborhood business district in northern Fremont.  The open lawn, seating areas, views and  plantings create a nice place to enjoy a picnic after visiting the Fremont Troll."

Moving through the park and back out towards the bus stop, murals and the view of the city from above the bridge, was what caught my eyes. 

 

Notice the 8 ft. high suicide prevention fence?

With this excursion behind us, we progressed to the next location.

Yes, another one of those tourist must go to, locations.

If you follow, you will hopefully find it worthwhile.

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