Seattle melts one millions wads of gum off their famous wall
Crews are cleaning up the city’s famed “gum wall” near Pike Place Market, where tourists and locals have been sticking their used chewing gum for the past 20 years. The wall is plastered with wads of gum in a kaleidoscope of colours, some stretched and pinched into messages, hearts and other designs. People also have used the gooey gobs to paste up pictures, business cards and other mementos.
Visitors check out Seattle's "gum wall" at Pike Place Market. Known as the "gum wall," the sticky landmark has become a popular attraction to visitors and locals.Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press
Twenty years worth of chewing gum is pictured before its removal in Post Alley at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Jason Redmond/AFP / Getty Images
A worker chisels off top layers of the 20-years worth of chewing gum that has accumulated in Post Alley at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Jason Redmond/AFP / Getty Images
A note that reads "Goodbye gum wall, we will miss you," sticks to a wall partially obscured by gum, at Seattle's "gum wall" at Pike Place Market. Besides gum, people leave pictures, business cards and other mementos.Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press
A worker uses a high-temperature pressure washer to clean layers of gum from Seattle's famous "gum wall" at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press
Jessica Wang, left, and Michael Teylan, both of Los Angeles, create a "bubble gum kiss" while visiting Seattle's famous gum wall at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press
A group of people walking past the gum wall, a mosaic of 54 feet of chewed gum, at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Ruth Fremson/The New York Times
Fernando Soberania uses a tool to scrape layers of gum from Seattle's famous "gum wall" at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press
Workers carry trash bags filled with chewing gum that is being removed from the walls in Post Alley at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Jason Redmond/AFP / Getty Images
A goodbye message left on the gum wall at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.Ruth Fremson/The New York Times