Fremont Troll in Seattle and Patricia Briggs

   

Over the weekend, I reread the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs which includes Alpha & Omega: A Companion Novella to Cry Wolf and Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1) and Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2) and the upcoming Fair Game (Alpha and Omega). There is also a graphic novel, Patricia Briggs Alpha and Omega Cry Wolf #1.

And that is important because, well, I enjoyed the books again and while reading Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2) I was reminded of the Fremont Troll in Seattle. Living in almost the exact opposite corner of the US, I wasn't aware of the Fremont Troll until I read Hunting Ground the first time two years ago. Now I wanted to share him with you in case you've missed him, too.

Image from Wikipedia.

From Wikipedia:

The Fremont Troll (also known as The Troll, or the Troll Under the Bridge) is a piece of public art in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington in the United States.

The piece was the winner of a competition sponsored by the Fremont Arts Council in 1990, in part with the goal of rehabilitating the area under the bridge which was becoming a dumping ground and haven for drug dealers. It was built later that same year. The idea of a troll living under a bridge is derived from the Scandinavian folk tale "Three Billy Goats Gruff."

The Troll is a mixed media colossal statue, located on N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue N., under the north end of the Aurora Bridge. It is clutching an actual Volkswagen Beetle, as if it had just swiped it from the roadway above. The vehicle has a California license plate. The Troll was sculpted by four local artists: Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead. He is interactive—visitors are encouraged to clamber on him or try to poke out his one good eye (a hubcap). The Troll is 5.5 m (18 ft) high, weighs 6,000 kg (13,000 lb), and is made of steel rebar, wire, and concrete.

Aurora Avenue North was renamed "Troll Avenue" in its honor in 2005.

I remember when I first read Briggs' description I just knew the statue had to be a real thing. And it is! The description was too real and although she incorporates the statue quite well into her story, the full scene with the statue wasn't thoroughly necessary although it is quite enjoyable.

You can see more images as well as under construction photos and a more detailed history at the Troll page on the Fremont.com website.