Olympic Sculpture Park
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone:
- Cross Street:
- Broad Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- First Date Spot 2008
- Hours:
- May-Sep: Daily 6am-9pm, Oct-Apr: Daily 7am-6pm
Editorial Review for Olympic Sculpture Park – by Anna Roth
The View
The indoor steel and glass indoor pavilion opens onto a wide Z-shaped path that winds its way through the sculpture installations, over busy Elliott Avenue and the railroad tracks, to end at a recaptured public beach. All plants are local and the entire park offers a sweeping vista of Elliott Bay and the Olympics as well as peekaboo views of the big local landmarks--the Space Needle, Smith Tower, downtown, Mount Rainier and more.
The Appeal
The modern sculptures scattered around the park are all enhanced by the landscape. Alexander Calder's "Eagle" is a large, bright metal piece that echoes the red cranes behind it. A striking permanent installation is Mark Dion's "Vivarium," a fully-functioning nurse log set inside a greenhouse at the corner of Elliott Avenue and Broad Street. More works include Claes Oldenburg's playful "Typwriter Eraser," Teresita Fernandez's "Seattle Cloud Cover" bridge, Louise Bourgeois "Father and Son" fountain and many more.
Photo by Chris Daniel
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Know Before You GoFree public tours of the park are conducted on weekends.
When to GoThe third Saturday of every month is open to family events, designed for kids ages 5-11.
On the MenuThe TASTE Cafe by Bon Appetit offers sandwiches, salads and other picnic-worthy items.
User Reviews for Olympic Sculpture Park
03/13/2008 Posted by minnesotan_1981
I walk down to the Sculpture garden every day on my lunch hour during the week and there has NEVER been crowds. It's a beautiful place, and not very many people know how extensive it is. The cafe inside has wonderful whole foods as well. Not your usual fried everything and hamburgers.
02/17/2007 Posted by schwaenchen
We went to thye Olympic Sculpture Park on the weekend, and were rather disappointed. Firstly, the crowds were unmanagable, so be sure to go early in the morning to avoid them. The only cool exhibits are the life-size silver tree, the wake [rusty copper structures], and a giant uni-wheel rollerblade with crazy hair. Otherwise, the place was a bore. The 'do not touch' policy seems a little absurd with sculptures like "Bench", which, as its name implies, is a perfectly functional cement bench. If they want to enforce the do not touch policy, I think this place should put up fences around the sculptures, not put up blue signs everywhere telling me not to sit on the bench looking thing that is called "bench". My prediction is: one visit and you've had enough...
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