How to Find the Gum Wall at Pike Place Market

The Gum Wall is in lower Post Alley at Pike Place Market, down the ramp beside the iconic Public Market Center sign. Treat it as a quick, strange photo stop within a larger Market visit—not as a stand-alone Seattle outing. Allow about 10 to 15 minutes unless you want time for detailed photos.

How to find the Gum Wall

Start at the Public Market Center clock and neon sign at Pike Street and Pike Place. Take the descending ramp to the left of the sign. At the bottom, turn left into Post Alley; the gum-covered brick appears along both sides. These are the directions in Pike Place Market’s official Gum Wall listing.

The wall is below the Market’s street-level arcades, so it is easy to miss if you only walk past the fish and produce stalls. Searching for “Post Alley” can also be confusing because the alley extends beyond the gum-covered section.

Visitors planning around mobility needs can consult the official interactive Market map. It offers point-to-point directions and identifies stairs, ramps and elevators, according to the Market’s map announcement. Check the proposed path rather than assuming every route between the Market’s levels is step-free.

When to go

Timing is flexible if the Gum Wall is your only goal: it is an outdoor alley sight rather than a scheduled attraction. Daylight makes its colors and small gum designs easier to photograph.

For a fuller Market visit, do not arrive so early that much of the shopping is still closed. As of September 29, 2026, the Market says most activity runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; farm tables generally operate 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and the crafts market 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Individual businesses vary, and the Market closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Check the official hours before visiting, or use our Pike Place Market timing guide to choose an arrival based on food, crafts or lighter crowds.

What the wall is—and why it has been cleaned

The tradition began in the 1990s, when patrons and performers at nearby Unexpected Productions began sticking used gum to the brick. It gradually spread along Post Alley, according to the Market’s history of the wall.

In November 2015, an industrial steam machine removed roughly two decades of buildup. The Market authority estimated that about one million pieces had accumulated and said the cleaning was needed to protect the historic brick, as The Seattle Times reported before the work; PBS reported as the cleaning began. Gum subsequently accumulated again, so photos showing bare brick document a cleaning rather than the attraction’s permanent disappearance.

Practical visitor tips

• Do not lean on the wall. This is actual used chewing gum, not a sealed art installation. Keep bags, loose sleeves and children’s hands away from the brick.
• Take photos from the opposite side of the alley. Post Alley is narrow, so check behind you and leave room for people passing.
• Expect an outdoor stop. In rain, use a hood or compact umbrella, then move into the Market’s covered passages. A clustered rainy-day Seattle itinerary is more efficient than crossing downtown for another isolated attraction.
• Consider sensory preferences. The dense texture and used gum can be unpleasant for some visitors. Skipping it does not diminish the main Pike Place Market experience.
• Do not make it the day’s anchor. The wall takes only a few minutes. Give the larger block of time to the Market’s food stalls, craftspeople and views.

Pair it with the Market and waterfront

A simple sequence is:

1. See the Gum Wall in lower Post Alley.
2. Return up the ramp and browse the main Market arcades.
3. Continue west through MarketFront toward the waterfront.
4. Choose one waterfront anchor rather than trying to cover every pier.

The Market and waterfront form one practical sightseeing cluster. Our Seattle Waterfront Park guide explains how the connected public spaces fit together.

For a car-free visit, Pike Place Market says Westlake and Symphony Link stations are a few blocks away, while multiple Metro routes stop around Third Avenue at Pike or Pine streets. Drivers can use the Market garage, but rates and access arrangements can change; verify them on the official parking and transportation page before setting out.