Crews start steam-cleaning famed Seattle wall, melting off 1

A wall covered in chewing gum which became a tourist attraction in the United States has been cleaned up after it began attracting rats.

Zoe Freeman, who works near Pike Place, said: “The market is famous for the gum wall”.

The gum wall, located in Post Alley, was started a few 20 years ago by people waiting in line for a late-night improv performance, reported news outlets. I think it’s a great thing, it shows us we can start over, clean slate.

According to the Seattle Times, the contracted cleaning crew steam in protective suits cleaned the walls, causing the gum to melt and fall onto the ground.

The cleaning begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Since then, the colorful “gum wall” has expanded to other brick walls in the alley, pipes and even the theater’s box office window. “It just seemed like a good time to let the wall re-emerge”, said Emily Crawford with Pike Place Market.

“We expect people to come back and contribute to the wall again and that’s fun”, Crawford said.

SEATTLE (AP) – A piece of Seattle history is coming down – or rather, 1 million little pieces. The cleaning contractors, Cascadian Building Maintenance, are collecting and weighing the removed gum as they go and will have a final total at the end of the week.

Market officials hope to contain where people put their gum in the future but say they aren’t holding their breath.

Local artists have been invited to decorate the cleaned-up space on Saturday except for the area of the original brick Gum Wall, which will remain empty in order to welcome more gooey gum.