Why is Viretta Park connected to Kurt Cobain?

Viretta Park lies just south of the former home where Kurt Cobain was found dead. Its wooden benches serve as an informal memorial, covered with messages fans have written to him.

When do Nirvana fans gather at Viretta Park?

The largest gathering happens on April 5, the anniversary of Cobain's death. A smaller group also comes on February 20, his birthday.

Who is Viretta Park named after?

Charles L. Denny named the park for his wife, Viretta Chambers Denny.

Is there an official Kurt Cobain memorial at Viretta Park?

No. In 2011 the acting parks chief sided with neighbors in blocking a Cobain memorial there, so the graffiti-covered benches act as the unofficial one. Aberdeen, Washington has the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park.

Where is Viretta Park?

Viretta Park is at 151 Lake Washington Blvd E in Seattle's Denny-Blaine area. It runs from the foot of E. John Street at 39th Avenue E. down to Lake Washington Boulevard.

Viretta Park: The Kurt Cobain Benches in Denny-Blaine

Wooden benches covered in handwritten notes to a rock singer line a small, sloping patch of green in Seattle's Denny-Blaine area. This is Viretta Park, a 1.8-acre city park running downhill from the foot of E. John Street at 39th Avenue E. to Lake Washington Boulevard. The Kurt Cobain benches here sit just south of the house where the Nirvana singer was found dead, and they have become the city's informal memorial to him.

Most people come for that link to Cobain, but give the park a little more of your attention. Its story begins with a pioneer family name and winds through years of neighborhood debate over how the space should be used.

A Name From the Denny Family

Long before fans found it, the park already had its name. Charles L. Denny chose it to honor his wife, Viretta Chambers Denny, and that family history connects the park to the wider Denny-Blaine name, which you will spot again on two other small parks just a short walk away.

Read the full guide

Viretta Park belongs to the Harrison/Denny-Blaine part of the Central Area district. To explore the streets, homes and green spaces around it, dip into our Harrison/Denny-Blaine neighborhood guide.

The Benches Fans Made Into a Memorial

With no official Kurt Cobain memorial inside Seattle, fans created one of their own. Take a seat and read the wooden benches, which are covered in messages written to him and layered over years of visits. For many people, lingering over those words is the whole reason for the trip.

The bond runs deep enough that people have long debated renaming the spot "Kurt's Park," though the official name has stayed Viretta Park.

Dates When Fans Gather

Plan around two dates if you want to join the largest groups:

April 5: the anniversary of Cobain's death, when the biggest crowds of Nirvana fans gather to pay tribute.
February 20: Cobain's birthday, which brings a smaller gathering.

Come any other day and you can expect a quieter visit, with the benches and their messages waiting for whoever stops by.

Neighbors, Disputes and Volunteer Work Parties

Tension between neighbors and the people drawn here runs through the park's past. An early version of a group called Friends of Viretta Park took shape when nearby residents had a dispute with Howard Schultz, the former Starbucks CEO, who once lived just to the south before later moving to a different home.

The Viretta Park Repair Effort

Fans formed a group called Viretta Park Repair in 2010, aiming to fix up and restore the park and to create a memorial to Cobain, who died in the house next door. Its first work party was set for February 20, 2011, which would have been Cobain's 44th birthday, and volunteers traveled from across the western United States and southwestern Canada to take part.

Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Christopher Williams then halted further work parties planned for March 13 and April 5, 2011. A neighbor had complained about memorial events and a sculpture, even though those plans were actually set for Aberdeen, Washington, not Viretta Park, and Williams sided with neighbors in opposing any Cobain memorial in the park.

The group was later cleared to hold more work parties. On June 4, 2011, volunteers pulled out invasive holly and blackberry, laid down burlap and spread bark mulch over the cleared ground.

How to Visit Respectfully

Head to 151 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112, and you will find a small, sloped space tucked between private homes in a residential neighborhood. Its history shows how much neighbors care about how it is used, so keep your voice down, stay within the park and leave the surrounding houses and driveways alone.

If you are hoping for a formal memorial site, look to Aberdeen, Washington, Cobain's hometown, where the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park awaits. For current rules and park details, check with Seattle Parks and Recreation before you go.

Small Parks and Landmarks Nearby

Viretta Park sits in a cluster of tiny lakeside parks, so you can easily link several into a single stroll:

Stevens Triangle, less than 0.1 mile away
Denny Blaine Park, about 0.1 mile away
Howell Park, about 0.1 mile away
Denny Blaine Lake Park, about 0.1 mile away
Lakeview Park, about 0.3 mile away

Architecture lovers can add three landmarks roughly 0.2 mile from the park: the Rohrer House, the Ellsworth Storey House and Epiphany Chapel. To line up more stops around the city, browse our full list of parks in Seattle.