Grunge was spawned in the rainy, waterside city of Seattle by kids standing on the shoulders of giants. While trying to emulate their musical heroes, they fused punk rock and old-school heavy metal to come up with the slow and heavy grunge sound. Grunge shot up the charts like a rocket with the mainstream success of Nirvana in the early 1990s and left a major imprint on rock music. With the death of Kurt Cobain, the genre began its decline, but not before influencing every kid with a guitar who wanted to be in a rock band. You won't find many official monuments or tourist attractions dedicated to grunge in Seattle. It's still too young for that. So keep in mind that as a grunge tourist, you're a pilgrim of sorts.
A Sound Garden, Black (Hole) Sun, Spoonman -- these terms are instantly recognizable to grunge fans. Soundgarden, one of the biggest acts to come out of Seattle's grunge scene, took their name from an art installation called A Sound Garden on the campus of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration adjacent to Magnuson Park. One of Soundgarden's biggest hits, "Black Hole Sun," was inspired by the Black (Hole) Sun sculpture in Volunteer Park. Another popular song by the band, "Spoonman," is an homage to a longtime Seattle street performer of the same name who plays music with spoons.
Grunge was birthed in Seattle's grungy clubs (pun intended) and grew into larger venues. The Crocodile is one of the more storied clubs in town, where both Nirvana and Pearl Jam performed, and it's still in business. The Showbox is an older venue that was legendary long before grunge existed, yet still played a big part in the scene. The larger Paramount Theatre and Moore Theater also hosted notable performances. The OK Hotel, a former bar where prominent scenes in the 1992 film "Singles" were shot and Nirvana debuted its "Smells Like Teen Spirit" album, is now an art studio space that retains its famous name.
Kurt Cobain doesn't have a grave site, because his ashes were scattered, so fans have created an unofficial memorial to the Nirvana frontman in Viretta Park. The park is the closest public space to the private property where the singer took his life in 1994. Some benches in the park near the property have become the focal point of a makeshift memorial spot for Cobain. Learn more about Seattle's rich musical legacy before, during and after grunge at the EMP Museum, one of the city's more eye-catching and intriguing attractions. It was founded as the Experience Music Project in 2000, but now focuses on many aspects of popular culture and features grunge-related exhibits. The museum is next to the Space Needle and easily accessible via the Seattle Center Monorail.
It's difficult to craft a hyper-specialized itinerary for a place you've never been before concerning subject matter that isn't old enough to have official plaques and monuments. If you're a first-timer to Seattle interested in grunge history, make it easy on yourself by taking a guided tour. Stalking Seattle provides a rock-music-centric tour of Seattle. This van tour lasts 2.5 hours and makes stops at many important sites along the way, including Viretta Park. Unlike a DIY tour, you'll have the extra insight, anecdotes and answers to your questions from your guide.
