Fremont Troll, Concrete sculpture under Aurora Bridge in Fremont, Seattle, US.
The Fremont Troll is a concrete sculpture beneath the Aurora Bridge in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, created by a team of local artists in 1990. The giant figure stands roughly 18 feet tall and grips a real Volkswagen Beetle with one hand while staring out from under the bridge with an eye made from a metal hubcap.
Four artists led by Steve Badanes built the troll in 1990 using a neighborhood grant of 20,000 dollars to transform an abandoned space beneath the bridge. The project came from a Fremont Arts Council competition meant to reimagine unused city spots.
The figure draws from the Norwegian tale Three Billy Goats Gruff, linking Nordic storytelling traditions with contemporary street art. It shows a grumpy giant with a shiny hubcap gaze, playing the role of the classic bridge keeper from the old stories.
The sculpture sits openly at North 36th Street beneath the Aurora Bridge and can be visited anytime for photos. The area around it is busiest during daylight when light under the bridge shows the details better.
The Volkswagen Beetle in the troll's grip originally held a time capsule with Elvis memorabilia, but vandalism led to filling the car with concrete. Today the car is firmly anchored in the figure's grasp and part of the permanent installation.
Location: Seattle
Creator: Steve Badanes
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Made from material: concrete
GPS coordinates: 47.65105,-122.34723
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03
Seattle stretches between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, offering a mix of urban architecture, public spaces and natural areas. This route connects more than thirty stops, from the Space Needle and Pike Place Market to less visited sites like the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks or the Wing Luke Museum. The selection includes museums of contemporary and classical art, historic neighborhoods and waterfront parks. Pike Place Market sits downtown and has operated as a public market since 1907. Chihuly Garden and Glass displays the glasswork of local artist Dale Chihuly. The Museum of Pop Culture, designed by Frank Gehry, covers music, film and video games. Olympic Sculpture Park spans nine acres along the waterfront, combining outdoor sculpture with views across the bay. The Seattle Art Museum holds collections from different continents and periods. The Ballard Locks connect salt water to fresh water and include a fish ladder for migrating salmon. Discovery Park covers 534 acres with trails through forest and meadow, plus beach access. Gas Works Park preserves parts of a former coal gasification plant on Lake Union. The Museum of Flight documents aviation history with more than 175 aircraft and spacecraft. Mount Rainier National Park lies about two hours southeast and features the 14,411-foot (4,392-meter) glaciated volcano.
Washington holds far more than the well-known attractions of Seattle and Mount Rainier. Across the state, dozens of less-visited sites offer insight into the region's geological history, military past, and natural diversity. From waterfalls to ancient forests to historic lighthouses and military fortifications, Washington presents a substantial range of landscapes and cultural sites. Palouse Falls in Franklin County drops 198 feet (60 meters) into a basalt gorge, while Cape Flattery at the northwesternmost point of the continental United States looks out over jagged cliffs and the open Pacific. Ape Caves in Skamania County is one of the longest lava tube systems in the country, and Beacon Rock rises 848 feet (260 meters) above the Columbia River. The Trail of the Patriarchs leads through centuries-old Douglas firs and cedars, and Deception Pass Bridge connects Whidbey Island to the mainland via a 180-foot (55-meter) steel structure from 1935. Fort Worden in Port Townsend served as a coastal defense installation, and the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle documents the Asian American history of the Pacific Northwest. Dry Falls in Grant County shows the remains of an Ice Age waterfall that was once wider than Niagara Falls. Mima Mounds in Thurston County forms a field of hundreds of symmetrical earth mounds whose formation continues to be scientifically debated. These sites offer practical alternatives to the crowded main attractions and allow for deeper engagement with Washington's natural and historical features.
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