The chewing gum house: And the world's other most unhygienic tourist attractions

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated:


  • Website reveals the world's most unhygienic must-sees

Containing an estimated one million pieces of chewed gum (and an unknown quantity of dried saliva) this may be the world's weirdest - and according to a recent poll the world's second most unhygienic - tourist attraction.

Landing second place in Tripadvisor's 'World's Germiest Attractions' rundown, the 50-foot long Pike Place Market wall in Seattle, USA, is covered from floor to ceiling in colourful gum.  

The tacky display first took shape when theatregoers queueing for the Unexpected Productions' improv comedy show Seattle Theatresports stuck coins and other small objects to the wall using chewing gum.

Sticky situation: At least a million separate gobbets of chewing gum have been stuck to the Pike Place Market wall in Seattle, Washington since 1999

Sticky situation: At least a million separate gobbets of chewing gum have been stuck to the Pike Place Market wall in Seattle, Washington since 1999

Stuck up: Used bubblegum has steadily accreted on the wall since bored theatre patrons started sticking their gum there in the 1990s

Stuck up: Used bubblegum has steadily accreted on the wall since bored theatre patrons started sticking their gum there in the 1990s

ATTRACTIONS TO AVOID...

blarney stone

1: The Blarney Stone, Ireland

Kissed by an unquantifiable number of would-be politicians and salesmen

2: Seattle Gum Wall, USA

Encrusted with chewing gum

3: Oscar Wilde's Tomb, France

Smeared with the lipstick of a huge number of 'artistic' teenagers

4: St Mark's Place, Venice

Infested by a vast flock of filthy pigeons hoping for a free meal

5: Grauman's Chinese Theatre, USA

Its oft-touched hand prints are no cleaner than any other stretch of pavement.

6: Karni Mata Rat Temple, India

The clue is in the name. Bare feet are mandatory for visitors.

7: Friendly Monkey Valley, Korea

The monkeys are friendly. That doesn't make them clean.

8: Glastonbury Festival, England

The Bronze Age conditions of the festival toilets are the stuff of legend

9: 'Any Children's Ball Pool'

A bit of a cheat this, but those colourful balls harbour all manner of grime

10: CBGB's toilets, USA

The original Punk Rock haunt flies the flag for filthy rock club loos the world over.

Theatre workers twice scraped the wall clean but eventually had to admit defeat. Local market officials declared the gum wall an official 'tourist attraction'  in 1999.

It even inspired a scene in the Hollywood film, Love Happens, staring Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart.

Beaten only by Ireland's famous Blarney Stone, which visitors kiss in hope of acquiiring the gift of the gab, the Seattle local landmark has slowly accumulated more and more pieces of chewed gum since the turn of the century.

Now inches-thick brightly coloured messages adorn the wall as well as small 'art works' made from people's left over bubble or chewing gum.

'It stretches at its most concentrated area for around 50 feet and is about 15 feet high,' said Jamison Johnson, 36, a local musician and artist who has documented the growth of the wall.

'It was first started in 1993 by people waiting in the queue attending the Market Theatre in Post Alley, which stands under Pike Place Market.'

'It was cleaned up twice, but in 1999, Seattle realised that it was like California's famous Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo and left it alone.'

'Since then people flock here to get married, leave their own piece of gum or to even make a small art work or a message of love or peace.'  

The wall has developed an unusual visual appeal for the art-loving residents of Seattle.

'To me the gum wall sums up the eclectic Seattle arts experience,' said Jamison.

'It has a unique character, diversity, equality of access and expression, and innovation that struck hearts and minds of Seattle.'

'To me it stands out much more than the city's Space Needle and other attractions to embody the real Seattle experience and art influence.' 

Celebrating over ten years of continual evolution and growth, the Seattle gum wall last year found itself basking in new found infamy.

'When TripAdvisor.com named it the second most germiest tourist attraction in the world, people just swelled in numbers coming to see the wall,' said Jamison.

'I suppose it is a little unhygienic, especially when we are all obsessed with clean hands and swine flu, but it's only supposed to be fun.'

Eye Candy: Occupying the mysterious middle ground between folk art and vandalism the gum wall has dozens of mini 'art works' embedded in it

Eye Candy: Occupying the mysterious middle ground between folk art and vandalism the gum wall has dozens of mini 'art works' embedded in it

As close as you ever want to get: The crust of gum is inches thick in some places

As close as you ever want to get: The crust of gum is inches thick in some places

 

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