The former Cobain residence
View from Viretta Park
Kurt Cobain lived in a number of towns around Washington State including Hoquiam and Aberdeen, but at the time of his death he had a house near Lake Washington in Seattle. His body was discovered there on 8 April 1994, in a room above the garage referred to as "the greenhouse." His death was officially pronounced a suicide, but as with other deaths of famous people, conspiracy theories abound. Many people, including Courney Love's biological father, and Tom Grant, a private investigator employed by Courney Love at the time of Kurt's death, believe that she had him murdered. The documentary "Kurt & Courtney" and numerous websites cover this topic. Kurt was cremated and there is no grave so Viretta Park (one park bench in particular), located beside his old house, has become a memorial site for obsessed fans. Courtney Love tore down the garage/greenhouse in 1996. She no longer owns the house.
The former Cobain residence | View from Viretta Park |
 Messages scrawled on Viretta Park bench |  Reference to Dave Grohl, former Nirvana member |
 Stan Baker Sports Where Kurt bought the gun that killed him |  To the point |
Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle. A house he lived in as a child in the 1950's (somewhere between age 10-15 depending on what source you read) still existed until 2009. It was moved from Seattle's Central District in 2002 to save it from a condo development but things didn't work out with the city and it had to be moved again in 2005. The second move brought it to a mobile home park in Renton, almost directly across from the site of the Hendrix Memorial. The owner was planning to make the house into a museum, which would be surrounded by Hendrix-themed stores and townhouses on the redeveloped mobile home site. He was never able to work out an arrangement with developers and the house sat there until the City of Renton lost patience and ordered it torn down. Apparently the owner put a lot of pieces of the house and its contents into storage somewhere, perhaps to be resurrected someday. I snapped the shots below not long before the structure was dismantled.
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Jimi Hendrix is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton. A new memorial was constructed in 2003 his remains were moved there from the original grave marked by a simple headstone. According to an article I read they will eventually install a bronze life-size statue of Hendrix underneath the dome. As it stands though it is rather dull looking for a dude who ROCKED. They added some large engravings after I took these photos. Speaking of dull and rocks, Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle has a "Jimi Hendrix Memorial Rock" in their African Savanna but I have never been to see it. The official website of the Hendrix Memorial is here. Remember, kids: don't do drugs.
 The Jimi Hendrix Memorial |
 Nice sundial -- it's time to ROCK!!! |
 Original tombstone incorporated into memorial |
 Jimi's stoned John Hancock |
Both father and son are buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle. Bruce lived in Seattle from 1959 to 1964 where he attended college (including the University of Washington), opened his first martial arts studio (now Ho Ho Seafood Restaurant), and married his wife Linda. My friend's dad, who was born in China, was once on a road trip through Seattle and wanted to visit the Lees' graves. Unfortunately none of the Chinese people he asked were able to give him directions, which he found very annoying. To add to his disappointment in his race, it was a CAUCASIAN person who was finally able to help him. He left Seattle disgusted with his paisanos. But don't lose hope all you chinitos and chinitas, because when I was at the cemetery a man of apparent Chinese ancestry was able to direct me to the grave! For a 360-degree view, hit this link.
 Baby Monster Saar Cemetery, Kent, WA |  Sold out to the whites Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Renton, WA |
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