The Wall of Death

The Wall of Death is a permanently sited public art installation located under the University Bridge in Seattle. It was designed and built by Mowry Baden and his son, Colin, in 1993. The installation is a representation of the structure used to perform the motorcycle and miniature automobile stunt, the wall of death. The ramp provided a spot for skateboarders to ride, but after seven complaints and a head-on collision between a skateboarder and a cyclist in 2008, The Seattle Department of Transportation installed a rock barrier to deter skateboarders from interacting with the art. Although Mowry Baden had intended the installation to be used by skateboarders, he agreed that public safety was more important.