Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Washington Seattle Hat 'n' Boots

Hat 'n' Boots

Seattle's super-sized cowboy apparel once belonged to a themed gas station that wrangled in herds of tourists.

Seattle, Washington

Added By
Jared Steed
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Hat ‘n’ Boots today.   steedjb / Atlas Obscura User
Hat.   steedjb / Atlas Obscura User
Boots.   steedjb / Atlas Obscura User
  mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
Hat ‘n’ Boots before restoration.   https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com...
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Boots bathroom entrance.   steedjb / Atlas Obscura User
showing some signs of wear & tear with graffiti & homeless in the park   SomePlaceCool / Atlas Obscura User
  Aty Trocious / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Touted as the largest cowboy hat and boots in America, these pieces of massive rancher apparel made their debut in the 1950s in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood as part of a western-themed gas station called Hat 'n' Boots. The 44-foot-wide hat was designed to hold the gas station's office while the 22-foot-tall boots served as the restrooms.

The themed attraction quickly lassoed in herds of tourists. For a time, it was the most successful gas station in the entire state. According to legend, Elvis Presley even stopped by when he was in the area for the Seattle World's Fair in 1962.

However, in the mid 1960s, Interstate 5 was built through the city and spurred traffic away from the station. By the ‘80s, the trail looked bleak.

When the gas station finally closed in 1988, Hat 'n' Boots sank into a period of decay and vandalism. After skateboarders cracked the brim of the hat, it appeared that Hat 'n' Boots would finally be put out to pasture.

Georgetown residents, however, were unwilling to let the unique duds ride into the sunset without a fight. Noting that it was as important to the neighborhood as the Golden Gate Bridge is to San Francisco, the community bucked up and wrangled enough funds to save and restore Hat 'n' Boots.

The iconic attraction was moved to Georgetown's Oxbow Park in 2003. The boots were restored in 2005; the hat finally completed in 2010. Plans are currently in the works to turn the hat into an interpretive exhibit brimming with the history of Hat 'n' Boots and its importance to the local area.

Related Tags

Cowboys Hats Shoes Bathrooms Wild West Parks Roadside Attractions

Community Contributors

Added By

steedjb

Edited By

erjeffery, Collector of Experiences, SomePlaceCool, Aty Trocious...

  • erjeffery
  • Collector of Experiences
  • SomePlaceCool
  • Aty Trocious
  • mocchiatto
  • janeen1071

Published

December 1, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2235
  • http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/seattles-hat-n-boots-finds-a-new-home
  • https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/georgetowns-hat-n-boots-restored/
Hat 'n' Boots
6430 Corson Ave S
Seattle, Washington
United States
47.544965, -122.321602
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Georgetown Castle

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Georgetown Steam Plant

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Connections Museum

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Seattle

Seattle

Washington

Places 131
Stories 18

Nearby Places

Georgetown Castle

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Georgetown Steam Plant

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Connections Museum

Seattle, Washington

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Seattle

Seattle

Washington

Places 131
Stories 18

Related Stories and Lists

18 Great Big Things That Are Both Big and Great

world's largest

By Eric Grundhauser

Related Places

  • A series of storefronts resembling an Old Western town.

    Virgin, Utah

    Fort Zion

    A kitschy stop on the way to Zion National Park.

  • Hebron, Nebraska

    World’s Largest Covered Porch Swing

    At 32 feet long, this swing is big enough for the whole family—and then some.

  • Inzai, Japan

    Futago Park

    This park was once home to now-extinct Naumann's elephants, and what might have been a real Banksy.

  • Old Woman’s Shoe

    Mumbai, India

    Old Woman’s Shoe

    A gigantic shoe, inspired by a nursery rhyme, sits in a park atop Mumbai’s Malabar Hill.

  • 'Highway of Dreams' 1932 Studebaker

    Holbrook, Arizona

    'Highway of Dreams' 1932 Studebaker

    This rusted car found in Petrified Forest National Park's Route 66 exhibit may be the most photographed abandoned car in the country.

  • A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art

    Trinidad, Colorado

    A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art

    This museum and former department store is home to the largest collection of A.R. Mitchell art in the world.

  • Indianapolis, Indiana

    The Idle

    A park where you can watch the highway zoom past.

  • International Falls, Minnesota

    Smokey Bear Park

    Home to a 26-foot-tall statue of an American icon.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.