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All the United States Washington Seattle World Famous Giant Shoe Museum

World Famous Giant Shoe Museum

An old-timey peepshow allows visitors to gawk at some of the world's most freakishly large footwear.

Seattle, Washington

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
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World Famous Giant Shoe Museum   Doug Downen on Flickr
World Famous Giant Shoe Museum   Doug Downen on Flickr
World Famous Giant Shoe Museum   James Allenspach on Flickr
World Famous Giant Shoe Museum   Doug Downen on Flickr
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About

Located along one stretch of wall in the historic Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, the World Famous Giant Shoe Museum offers passersby the chance to deposit a few cents for a peek at some colossal shoes in an homage to the sideshow attractions of yesteryear.

The so-called museum is based on the giant shoe collection of one Danny Eskenazi. Eskenazi became fascinated with collecting colossal shoes after discovering that his grandfather had once owned a shoe that had belonged to the World's Tallest Man, Robert Wadlow. A bounty of $1,000 was offered to find the missing shoe; still yet to be recovered, the reward still stands. In the meantime, Eskenazi continued to collect other giant shoes, including another that had once belonged to Wadlow.

After a graphic designer mocked up the boardwalk-style display front, the museum was pitched to the city and finally approved. Now visitors can step up to the stereoscopic-style viewing pieces and for just a quarter, the curtain pulls back to reveal some of the largest shoes they are likely to have seen. Among the shoes on display are the aforementioned Wadlow Brogue, a pair of "Real Clown Shoes," a massive pair of novelty loafers, and an assorted collection of oversize shoes (this one costs two quarters).

Fans of the odd and amusing would be hard pressed to find an attraction that speaks more to the spirit of the sideshows of yore than the World Famous Shoe Museum. Anywhere outside of Coney Island, that is.  

Related Tags

Roadside Attractions Wunderkammers Pike's Place

Know Before You Go

Located below the main arcade level, adjacent to (and owned by) Old Seattle Paperworks.

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

johnsonofjohn61, Blindcolour, dlc31723, thegenxjourney...

  • johnsonofjohn61
  • Blindcolour
  • dlc31723
  • thegenxjourney
  • breaingram
  • Aty Trocious
  • mocchiatto
  • Fred Cherrygarden
  • michellemobarrett
  • Planetpinto

Published

August 11, 2013

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  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/15540
  • https://roadtrippers.com/us/seattle-wa/attractions/giant-shoe-museum
  • http://www.sillyamerica.com/blog/2009/07/the-world-famous-giant-shoe-museum/
World Famous Giant Shoe Museum
1501 Pike Place, # 424
Seattle, Washington, 98101
United States
47.608386, -122.341403
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Photo of Seattle

Seattle

Washington

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Stories 18

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Places 131
Stories 18

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