Seattle, Washington story
A Concrete Giant
Tucked under the north end of the Aurora Bridge is a giant that doesn't speak, but certainly attracts a crowd. The Fremont Troll is an 18-foot cement sculpture that's been looming…
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Tucked under the north end of the Aurora Bridge is a giant that doesn't speak, but certainly attracts a crowd. The Fremont Troll is an 18-foot cement sculpture that's been looming over the neighborhood since 1990. It wasn't always there; the sculpture was actually the result of a 1989 city arts competition to revitalize the empty space under the bridge.
Led by Steve Badanes and a team of artists and volunteers, the crew used rebar steel, wire, and ferrocement to bring this creature to life. Based on the Norwegian folktale of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, the Troll has a quirky detail: one of its metal eyes is actually a Volkswagen Beetle hubcap. It's a place where the public is encouraged to climb, pose, and play, turning a drab underpass into one of the city's most interactive pieces of art.
Updated June 2026