The History
Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love purchased the 1.5-acre lakeside property at 171 Lake Washington Boulevard East in Seattle's exclusive Denny-Blaine neighborhood in January 1994 for $1.13 million. The 1902 gray-shingled home sat on a wooded lot overlooking Lake Washington. The couple moved in with their 18-month-old daughter, Frances Bean.
By early 1994, Cobain was at the height of his fame and the depths of his despair. Nirvana's "In Utero" had debuted at number one. But Cobain was struggling with heroin addiction, chronic stomach pain, and depression. On March 4, he was hospitalized in Rome after an accidental overdose of Rohypnol and champagne. On March 30, friends and family staged an intervention. Cobain agreed to enter rehab in Los Angeles but escaped on April 1.
What Happened
After leaving rehab, Cobain returned to Seattle. On April 5, 1994, he was last seen alive at the Lake Washington Boulevard house. He went into a room above the detached garage — a greenhouse-like space he used as a retreat. He wrote a suicide note addressed to his childhood imaginary friend "Boddah," then took his own life with a shotgun. He was 27 years old.
His body was not discovered until April 8, when an electrician named Gary Smith arrived to install a security system. Seattle police initially estimated Cobain had been dead for approximately three days. A suicide note was found nearby, along with a cigar box containing drug paraphernalia.
The news devastated a generation. An estimated 7,000 fans gathered at a public vigil in Seattle Center on April 10. Courtney Love played portions of the suicide note over a loudspeaker and addressed the crowd directly.
Key Facts
The 27 Club
Cobain joined the "27 Club" alongside Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and later Amy Winehouse. His mother reportedly said: "I told him not to join that stupid club."
The Suicide Note
Cobain's note was addressed to "Boddah," his childhood imaginary friend. It expressed disillusionment with the music industry and his inability to feel the excitement of performing.
Viretta Park Bench
A bench in Viretta Park, adjacent to the property, has become an unofficial memorial. Fans cover it with messages, flowers, guitar picks, and candles. The city has left it in place.
What's There Now
Visiting the Site
Address: 171 Lake Washington Boulevard East, Seattle, WA (Denny-Blaine neighborhood)
Status: Private residence. The greenhouse where Cobain died was torn down by Courtney Love in 1996.
Memorial: Viretta Park, immediately adjacent to the property, is publicly accessible. The memorial bench is at the north end of the park, closest to the house.
Tip: The park bench is the appropriate place to pay respects. Please do not approach the private residence or attempt to enter the property.
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