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4.0
714 votes

Market Theater Gum Wall

94 Pike St, Ste 32, Seattle, Washington 98101 USA

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Thu 12a-11:59p
  • Independent
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  • Pet Friendly
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  • No Public
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“You thought under your desk was bad!”

A bizarre tradition at Seattle's Market Theatre in Post Alley has turned into a fascinating yet very germy attraction: a giant wall of gum.

The Market Theater Gum Wall is a local landmark in downtown Seattle, in Post Alley under Pike Place Market. Similar to Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo, California, the Market Theater Gum Wall is a brick alleyway wall now covered in used chewing gum. Parts of the wall are covered several inches thick, 15 feet high for 50 feet.

The wall is by the box office for the Market Theater, and the tradition began around 1993 when patrons of Unexpected Productions' Seattle Theatresports stuck gum to the wall and placed coins in the gum blobs. Theater workers scraped the gum away twice, but eventually gave up after market officials deemed the gum wall a tourist attraction in around 1999. People initially stuck coins to the wall using the gum, and some people create small works of art out of gum.

It was named one of the top 5 germiest tourist attractions in 2009, second to the Blarney Stone. It is the location of the start of a ghost tour, and it is a popular site with wedding photographers.

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Reviewed by
Greg Newkirk

  • Expert
  • 314 Reviews
  • 374 Helpful
July 10, 2014
Rated 4.0

This is one the funniest/worst smelling points of interest in downtown Seattle. It's RIGHT at Pike Place Market, which you're going to go see anyway, so you have no excuse not to pop down the alley and smash your own piece of gum into the wall.

It's equally as impressive as it is gross. Take your parents to go check it out after they've seen "those nice men who throw the fish", and pretend to pick a piece off the wall and pop it in your mouth. Trust me.

6 people found this review helpful
  • 1 Review
  • 5 Helpful
April 01, 2014
Rated

I've been there sooo many times! It's awesome but smells HORRIBLE! I've probably added about 1% of the gum that's on there.

5 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Dana Newkirk

  • Road Warrior
  • 298 Reviews
  • 377 Helpful
July 11, 2014
Rated 3.0

This one of the best/grossest stops in the city, but if you haven't visited at added your own contribution at least once you're missing out. The amount of gum covering that wall is astronomical. While you're there, don't forget to explore the pike place market, it's one of the oldest sections of Seattle.

2 people found this review helpful
  • 395 Reviews
  • 33 Helpful
June 10, 2020
Rated 4.0

Location: To get to the Gum Wall...there is a stairway to left of the main entrance of the Pike Place Market. You will then see the Market Theater marquee above. There is an alley that leads to the left. The Gum Wall is down there. There was security hanging out near the steps. Some people just observe, while others chew their gum and stick it to the wall. There are people that blow bubbles, leave long strings of gum, make shapes (like hearts), and even spell words out with chewed gum! There was even a germaphobe that used gloves to apply her gum. It's kind of crazy, and smells funky, but it's one of those quirky Seattle icons like the Freemont Troll that you just have to see when visiting!

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Reviewed by
wilmariedenise

  • 2 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
October 03, 2019
Rated 5.0

A nasty but fun experience!!

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Reviewed by
ReneeSmall

  • 14 Reviews
  • 20 Helpful
June 06, 2018
Rated 5.0

Maybe it smells worse when it’s hotter, with these reviews I was expecting a wave of absolute disgust but was greeted with something more in the “just gross” category. Still it’s a quirky little stop right under pike place. Why not stop in and admire the grossest.

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Reviewed by
Cheryl

  • 58 Reviews
  • 3 Helpful
October 17, 2017
Rated

Gross, but if your at Pike's, may as well stop and see this bizarre attraction and get a quick pic. Didn't notice a bad smell when I was there, other than normal "city smell".

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Reviewed by
SamFam

  • 17 Reviews
  • 11 Helpful
June 19, 2016
Rated 5.0

We had fun putting our gum on the wall. I'm glad we did it!. It is RIGHT next to Pike Place Fish market down the stairs. It is a bit of a "shady" alley but lots of tourists go there. We had plenty of time to take our pictures. Don't forget your gum!

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Reviewed by
Timetim

  • 26 Reviews
  • 5 Helpful
May 21, 2016
Rated 3.0

It is a wall filled with gum. Funny and if you visiting The farmers market it only takes 3 min to go down there and have a look

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Reviewed by
JamieSwegles

  • 3 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
November 28, 2015
Rated 5.0

Whelp, what can one say about a gum wall? It was kind of nasty but still really cool. I happened to visit Seattle about a week after the wall was scrubbed clean after years of gum accumulating on it. I did want to see the original gum wall in all its glory but was excited to one one of the first to stick gum on the "new" gum wall. I say go see it and add gum!

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Market Theater Gum Wall

94 Pike St, Ste 32
Seattle, Washington
98101 USA
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Open 24 hours today
  • Sun - Sat: 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

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