Visit Seattle, Washington and one thing will be abundantly clear: Downtown Seattle is rich with art and culture, prominently displayed in landmark buildings, statues, and sculptures throughout the city. Probably the most well-known landmark in Seattle is our Space Needle, a futuristic observation tower and restaurant designed and built for the 1962 World’s Fair that we love to show off to anyone who visits. But did you know another one our most iconic personalized monuments in Seattle was not even built in Washington? Its the Hammering Man Statue and it is more than worth a stop!

Seattle’s iconic Hammering Man statue makes its home on the sidewalk just outside the Seattle Art Museum.
MarmadukePercy, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
It is the creation of artist, Jonathan Borofsky, and is part of a series of kinetic sculptures celebrating the worker. Though the Hammering Man has stood proudly in front of the Seattle Art Museum (we affectionately call it "SAM" and believe its one of the best alternative tourist attractions in the state) for more than three decades, the 22,000-pound steel structure was actually produced in Connecticut.
This two-dimensional, painted steel silhouette stands 48 feet tall,
Blog/Seattle Art Museum
Located on the corner of 1st Avenue and University Street in downtown Seattle, it has a mechanized aluminum arm that gently hammers four times per minute, 20 hours a day.
The Hammering Man celebrates the accomplishments of all working classes.
Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The non-descript features of Hammering Man are intentional. Artist Jonathan Boroksky designed the Hammering Man series with an anonymous silhouette, honoring global women and men of the working class, including those who contributed to our beloved Pacific Northwest city.

Related Stories

See A Show At The Historic Theater In Washington Where Bing Crosby Once Worked

See A Show At The Historic Theater In Washington Where Bing Crosby Once Worked

 This Beloved Historic Theater In Washington Is Finally Being Reopened With A New Name

This Beloved Historic Theater In Washington Is Finally Being Reopened With A New Name

 This Is The Most Washington Song You'll Ever Hear, And We Can't Stop Listening To It

This Is The Most Washington Song You'll Ever Hear, And We Can't Stop Listening To It
Hammering Man was installed (and subsequently removed) on September 28, 1991.
Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Installing a monument as large as Hammering Man wasn’t an easy task. During installation, a lift strap snapped, and the structure fell about a foot. This may not sound like much, but the resulting damage was significant enough that Borofsky’s magnificent sculpture had to be sent back to North Haven, Connecticut (not to be confused with Nerw Haven just a short 15 minute drive away) for repairs. Hammering Man was re-installed a year later, where it remains to this day.
Borofsky designed a series of Hammering Man sculptures to be displayed throughout the world.
Jonathan Borofsky
For example, this nearly 40-foot-tall Hammering Man resides in Elvebredden Park along the Nitelva River in Lillestom, Norway.
Frankfurt, Germany hosts the second tallest Hammering Man sculpture.
Jonathan Borofsky
Towering at over 68 feet, Frankfurt Germany is the home of this massive Hammering Man sculpture, but believe it or not, it’s not the tallest one. That title belongs to the 72-foot Hammering Man Sculpture in Seoul, Korea.
The Hammering Man silently hammers (almost) around the clock.
Jonathan Borofsky
During the early morning hours between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., our beloved Hammering Man takes a well-deserved break! and it enjoys a full day’s rest on Labor Day each year. Though it got its start in Connecticut, it is one of Washington’s most iconic and important monuments. Proudly representing working-class laborers for more than 30 years, the Hammering Man is a symbol of pride and accomplishment.

Check out Hammering Man outside the Seattle Art Museum and you will be in awe of its towering height and poignant message.

Have you taken a photo in front of Hammering Man in Seattle, Washington? Is it taller than you imagined? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.

Want to spend the night in Seattle? You might consider the Renaissance Seattle Hotel.

For those who love boating and fishing, be sure to read This Lake Has The Absolute Bluest Water In Washington.

If you’re still in the mood for more Washington State adventures, take a look at this video:

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

More Washington State Adventures

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | September 15, 2023

Where can we find annual events in Washington?

  • The Poulsbo Viking Fest in Poulsbo celebrates the town’s Nordic history.
  • The Juan de Fuca Festival in Port Angeles is a small town music festival that features a wide array of international musical artists.
  • The Long Beach Razor Clam Festival in Long Beach is a weekend-long festival of clams, tons of other seafood, and even razor clam-digging lessons.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other exciting annual events in Washington.

Where can we find dog-friendly beaches in Washington?

  • Ocean Shores Beach in Ocean Shores offers a six-mile stretch of sandy beach for you and your pooch.
  • Shi Shi Beach at Olympic National Park offers tidepools for exploring but dogs must leave the wildlife alone.
  • Fort Ebey State Park in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island allows dogs on leashes.

Read on to learn about other dog-friendly beaches in Washington.

Where can we find historic churches in Washington State?

  • Trinity Episcopal Parish Church in Seattle has played an important role in the religious landscape in the city since 1865.
  • The Church of the Assumption in Bellingham was established as a parish in 1889 and remains an icon in the city to this day.
  • The Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater in Vancouver was formerly known as St. James Catholic Church and dates back to the 1800s.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other wonderful historic churches in Washington State.

Related Articles

Explore Washington

Featured Addresses
Seattle Art Museum, 1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA