8 PLACES IN WASHINGTON STATE A NIRVANA FAN SHOULD VISIT ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Nirvana was a grunge band from Aberdeen, Washington, that was formed by Kurt Cobain (guitar/vocals) and Krist Novoselic (bass) in 1987.

Kurt and Krist later moved to Olympia and Seattle, where their fanbase grew much quicker. After several short-term drummers, Dave Grohl became Nirvana’s permanent drummer in 1990. Pat Smear joined them as second guitarist in 1993.

Nirvana’s grunge sound blends catchy pop melodies, heavy guitar riffs, raw punk energy, and honest lyrics and emotions. Nirvana reached their big international breakthrough in 1991, after publishing Nevermind, their second album.

Their biggest hit was Smells like Teen Spirit, which added to Nirvana being known for taking Punk to the Mainstream. They also made Seattle and the Pacific Northwest famous in the international music industry. Finally, thanks to their unique sound, Nirvana suddenly were the new voice of a generation.

Sadly, Kurt Cobain’s heroine addiction, mental health issues, and aversion with fame often overshadowed Nirvana’s career. On April 5, 1994, he committed suicide at 27 years old. Kurt’s tragic death led to Nirvana’s break up and a slow downfall of grunge music (also called “Seattle Sound”) in pop culture.

Since Kurt’s passing, thousands of Nirvana fans have flocked to Washington State to see places connected to the band. From former homes, museum exhibits, Kurt Cobain memorials, to iconic music clubs, this self-guided tour will tell you about 8 Places in Washington State a Nirvana Fan should Visit once in a Lifetime!

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Seattle

Check out the Nirvana Exhibit at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Address: 325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, United States

If your Nirvana Pilgrimage begins in Seattle, going to the Museum of Pop Culture (formerly called Experience Music Project) is an awesome idea!

Their popular exhibit “Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses” starts with the band’s rather chaotic first years in Aberdeen. Then walk in the band member’s footsteps in Olympia and Seattle, soon publishing Bleach (their first album) and touring the US and UK for the first time!

There are more than 200 rare artifacts on display. For example, look at the band member’s clothes and instruments, (often handwritten) gig flyers, casting call for the Smells like Teen Spirit music video, photos, and the record contract with Sub Pop Records!

But the exhibit also includes backstage passes, setlists, cassettes, and a concert ticket to their last show in Munich, Germany on March 1, 1994! Many of these relics were donated by the band members, their families, or close friends.

At the end of Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses, you’ll learn why the band’s legacy is still making a difference today. So whether you’ve just discovered Nirvana or liked them for years, this informative but also deeply moving exhibit at MoPOP will surely impress you!

Unfortunately, after 14 years, “Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses” is set to close on September 7, 2025. So if you’re in the area this summer, you shouldn’t miss it!

Pay Homage at Kurt Cobain Memorial Bench

Address: Viretta Park, 151 E Lk Washington Blvd, Seattle, WA 98112, United States

Kurt Cobain Memorial Bench is at Viretta Park, a small park in the east central part of Seattle. As Kurt’s place of death is within a stone’s throw from here, Nirvana fans quickly started meeting and mourning at Viretta Park after his passing.

The wooden bench sits underneath a large tree and fans from near and far have left gifts, condolences, song lyrics, poems, and stickers on it with time. When I visited recently, there were flowers, painting, sunglasses, pearl necklace, and a maple leaf scarf on the bench.

I think this place comes very close to a burial place (Kurt’s ashes were spread in several places after his death). Nirvana fans still meet at this spot every year on Kurt’s anniversary of death and his birthday (February 20).

The bench overlooks Lake Washington that adds a lovely breeze to the peaceful vibe. So I assume that Kurt would have been very happy with this memorial site and that his fans still come here to pay tribute after more than 30 years!

Look at Kurt Cobain’s House

Address: 171 E Lk Washington Blvd, Seattle, WA 98112, United States

Kurt Cobain’s House was a 7,000 sq foot (650 sq meter) house within the Denny Blaine neighbourhood that Kurt and his wife Courtney Love bought in January 1994. This is where Kurt spent his last months and took his life on April 5, 1994.

Kurt’s body was found by an electrician on April 8, 1994 in the on-site greenhouse above the garage (which was demolished in 1997).

Kurt Cobain’s house was later sold and renovated and is a private property now, so it’s not open to the public. But Nirvana fans are welcome to check out the place from the outside through a wooden gate in front of the house today.

Left: Kurt Cobain’s house in the past (Photo credit: Etsy Ketsy on Wikimedia Commons). Right: The upper part you can see through the wooden gate today.

The Crocodile

Address: 2505 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, United States

If you want to stand inside a music club that hosted Nirvana as a surprise in 1992, check out The Crocodile (also called The Croc). Opened in 1991 and built on Seattle’s grunge legacy, this venue still plays an important role in the local music scene today.

The Croc has also hosted other famous artists, e.g. Pearl Jam, Social Distortion, The White Stripes, Billie Eilish, and The Beastie Boys with time. Finally, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as the 7th best club in the United States in 2013!

After changing their location several times, the Croc now has three floors with a 750 capacity state of the art showroom, concert venue, sit down theater, as well as a restaurant and a small hotel! Local and famous artists alike still share the stage today at the Croc.

Aberdeen

After chasing Nirvana and Kurt Cobain around Seattle, I had to go to Aberdeen. This is where Kurt and Krist Novoselic grew up, so it’s a must to go here at least once as a Nirvana fan! Aberdeen is a smaller city west of Seattle and it takes about 2.5 hours to drive here.

I took three buses to Aberdeen (from Seattle via Tacoma and Olympia), which took about four hours. Buses to Aberdeen only run a few times a day, so it’s important to plan ahead of time. But in 2025, riding buses of Grays Harbor transit covering Tacoma to Olympia and Olympia to Aberdeen is free of charge!

The Come As You Are sign

The very first Nirvana-related attraction just outside of Aberdeen is the Come As You Are sign. The title (also one of Nirvana’s most popular songs) was added to the Welcome to Aberdeen sign in 2005 by the City of Aberdeen to pay their respects to Kurt Cobain.

The Olympic Highway (Highway 12) is the main road from Seattle to Aberdeen and the sign is on your right. So whether you’re driving or taking a bus to Aberdeen, you can’t miss it! There’s also a small pull off available, so feel free to park and walk up to the sign for a few photos.

Kurt Cobain’s Childhood Home

Address: 1210 E 1st St, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

Kurt Cobain’s Childhood Home is a 4-bedroom house within a quiet residential neighbourhood close to downtown Aberdeen. Kurt lived here from his time as a toddler until his parents divorced when he was nine years old. He also lived here for a while as a teenager.

Kurt and Krist also used to practice during the early Nirvana days in the house’s garage in the 1980’s. It was in the hands of Wendy O’Connor (Kurt’s mother) until 2018 when she sold it to Dani and Lee Bacon.

In 2021, Washington authorities approved Kurt Cobain’s Childhood Home as a historic landmark. Besides, the new owners have been restoring the house to the years when Kurt lived there.

Starting July 26, 2025, special recognition markers will welcome fans and visitors to walk through the interior of the house! It’s supposed to include furnishings, photographs, audio recordings, and videos of Kurt’s early life.

Pay Tribute to Kurt at Kurt Cobain Memorial Park (Kurt Cobain Landing)

Address: Young St, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

Just a few minutes from Kurt’s Childhood Home you’ll find Kurt Cobain Memorial Park. This peaceful park overlooks the Wishkah river and sits next to Young Street Bridge.

Kurt claimed that he lived underneath this bridge when he was homeless. While this may not be true, people close to him confirmed that Kurt often liked to hang out here during his teenage years.

This place also inspired Something in the Way, one of Nirvana’s most melancholic songs. Finally, Nirvana’s live album From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah (1996) was named after the Wishkah river.

So it’s pretty clear that this spot meant a lot to Kurt. His family also spread a third of his ashes into the Wishkah river in 1999, five years after his death.

There are graffiti murals on the right side of the bridge, as well as a memorial wall for fans to leave messages, guitar sculpture, memorial plaque, “air guitar” sculpture, and an info board about Kurt’s life and legacy. Kurt Cobain Memorial Park has been here since 2015.

Although Kurt often spoke negatively about his hometown, the City of Aberdeen has put an effort to honour him in several ways. The most obvious examples are the Come As You Are sign and Kurt Cobain Memorial Park.

They also introduced Kurt Cobain Day to celebrate his birthday every year on February 20 and the Aberdeen Museum of History featured a small Nirvana exhibit. Unfortunately, the museum burned down several years ago and is permanently closed.

Olympia

Kurt Cobain’s Home in Olympia

Address: 114 Pear St NE, Olympia, WA 98506, USA

The third city I recommend checking out as a Nirvana fan is Olympia. While there are less places connected to the band here than in Seattle and Aberdeen, Kurt Cobain’s Home in Olympia is quite a special place.

The house has three apartments and Kurt lived in Apartment #2 and #3 between 1989 and 1991 (first with then-girlfriend Tracy Marander and later Dave Grohl).

As per various sources, Nirvana created 75% of their work in this house, including many songs from Nevermind.

Besides, Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill, a friend of his, sprayed a graffiti saying “Kurt Smells like Teen Spirit” on the wall inside Apartment #3 at the back of this house. This gave Kurt the idea for writing Smells like Teen Spirit!

Today Apartment #2 is an Airbnb. Inside there are photos of Kurt, Nirvana books, as well as a guitar tab poster of the song About a Girl. The owners also tried to keep things as they were from back when Kurt lived here. How cool is that?

Other Nirvana locations to Visit in Washington State

If you have more time during your trip to Washington State, there are a few more places connected to Nirvana you can visit:

Seattle

Linda’s Tavern

Address: 707 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122, United States

Linda’s Tavern is a bar and restaurant that still plays a part in the grunge/alternative music scene in Seattle. Opened in February 1994, this is where Kurt was last seen alive before committing suicide in April 1994. This is why Linda’s Tavern is also called the “Grunge Cheers”.

Today this Cowboy-themed bar and restaurant is known for their weekend brunch, burgers, Mac and Cheese (Kurt’s favourite food, BTW), sandwiches, tacos, and of course, lots of drinks!

International Fountain

Address: 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109, United States

This is where Kurt Cobain’s public Funeral Service was held on April 10, 1994. 7,000 Nirvana fans met here to say goodbye to their idol and a recording of Courtney Love reading his suicide note was played.

Aberdeen

Krist Novoselic’s House

Address: 1120 N Fairfield St, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

Nirvana’s bassist Krist Novoselic lived in this house during his time in Aberdeen. It’s on the right side of the Wishkah river and is a quick walk from Young Street Bridge on the top of a hill. It’s inside a wealthier neighbourhood than Kurt’s former homes.

Look at Kurt’s other Homes in Aberdeen

After moving out of his childhood home, Kurt lived at four other addresses in Aberdeen before moving to Olympia in 1989. All houses were close to Aberdeen’s downtown area. Besides, Kurt lived in Hoquiam and Montesano, which are just a short drive or bus ride from Aberdeen.

Check out the Pacific Northwest Music Project

Address: 121 West Wishkah Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

The Pacific Northwest Music Project is a non-profit organization that was founded by music enthusiasts Dani and Lee Bacon. They offer guided Nirvana walking tours around Aberdeen and the Green Room, which celebrates musicians and their legacy from the Pacific Northwest.

Besides, you can book a tour of Kurt’s Childhood Home here and they plan to open a Kurt Cobain Tribute Gallery in 2026. At this time, they are open Thursday-Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Finally, Dani and Lee call Aberdeen the “Cradle of Grunge Music” which I think is pretty awesome!

Conclusion: 8 Places in Washington State a Nirvana fan should Visit Once in a Lifetime

If you’re a Nirvana fan, chasing the band and Kurt Cobain around Washington State should be on your bucket list! From former homes, legendary music clubs, Kurt Cobain memorials in Seattle and Aberdeen, to the Nirvana exhibit at MoPOP, there’s so much to see here.

Thousands of Nirvana fans head to Washington State every year. And even as a hardcore fan, you might still learn something new about Nirvana on your trip. For example, I had no idea that 75% of their work was created at Kurt’s Home in Olympia!

I could still feel a faint grunge vibe in the air while walking around Seattle, Aberdeen, and Olympia, and found some awesome Nirvana merch in Seattle. But I can’t wait to join a tour of Kurt’s Childhood Home or stay at his former place in Olympia someday!

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