Kurt Cobain’s childhood home is now a listed-landmark
The house will be turned into an exhibition with private tours available
Kurt Cobain's childhood home in Aberdeen, Washington, has now been officially recognised as a historical landmark. Plans to restore the building to its original form are allegedly “90 to 95 percent” complete.
The late Nirvana frontman grew up in the house between 1968 and 1984, before moving out at 17, 10 years prior to his passing aged 27.
According to Washington’s public registry, the building was erected in 1923 and has now been approved by the Washington’s Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation. Ensuring its inclusion on the state’s Heritage Register, the register acknowledges “historically significant sites and properties found throughout the state.”
Executive director of the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation, Allyson Brooks, explained in an interview: “Generally we want to be sure that we’re acknowledging that something happened in a childhood home that was significant. In this case, it’s Kurt Cobain, who developed his musical passions and skills in Aberdeen and in that house. Everyone on the council recognised the importance of the place.”
The current owner of the house, Lee Bacon, mentioned in an interview that he plans to offer private tours of the home beginning in the coming Spring. Among his plans, Bacon also intends to launch a ‘Tribute Lounge and Gallery Cafe’ in downtown Aberdeen that’ll serve as a museum, celebrating Cobain’s influence and legacy utilising memorabilia, photos, and similar items of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana-related paraphernalia.
Throughout the house are pieces of historical elements of Kurt Cobain's childhood, including his dedicated music room that features a preserved wall where Cobain had drawn graffiti and band logos.
Among other items of interest to Nirvana fans, a self-portrait drawn by Cobain sold at auction last month for over $281,000 (£201,899). The news followed on from the announcement that a collection of photos from Cobain’s last-ever shoot, taken just a few months prior to his death, would also be auctioned off as a non-fungible token.
The month of May also saw another eerie auction, as a lock of Kurt Cobain’s hair sold for over $14,000 (£10,000). Following on from this, on the 27th anniversary of his death, the FBI released their records on Cobain’s suicide along with letters from conspiracy theorists. The 10-page document also featured correspondences between FBI agents and the authors of the letters.
Kurt Cobain: A Life In Pictures
Kurt’s childhood home in Aberdeen, Washington
His parents Wendy and Donald Cobain bought the house in 1969 when Kurt was two and he lived there until they separated when he was nine.
Kurt with younger sister by three years Kimberly in the mid 1970s
Kurt celebrates a childhood birthday with his family
Kurt and Kimberly stand outside their Aberdeen home
When their parents split in 1976, Kurt went to live with his father and Kim lived with her mother.
Showcasing an early talent for music, Kurt plays piano at his childhood home
Kurt’s attic bedroom pictured in 2013
More than a quarter of a century after Kurt last habited the room, his graffiti – including an Iron Maiden logo – still adorns the walls.
Led Zeppelin graffiti Kurt penned on his bedroom wall
An Aberdeen Junior High School photo of a young Kurt Cobain
A teenage Kurt at his Washington home
Kurt playing guitar in his attic room
His walls are decorated with Black Flag and hardcore punk band Dr. Know gig posters.
May 1986: Kurt was arrested aged 19
He was arrested for trespassing on an abandoned building in Market Street, Aberdeen. He was also arrested a year earlier for spray painting on pick-up trucks.
1991: Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl in London
August 1991: Nirvana perform at Reading Festival
September 1991: A 'Nevermind' launch show at New York’s Tower Records
5th November 1991: Kurt onstage at Nirvana’s sold-out gig at The Astoria Theatre in London
November 1991: Kurt crowdsurfing in Frankfurt, Germany
1991: Kurt at Hilversum Studios, Holland
1991: Kurt at Hilversum Studios, Holland
August 1992: The Kerrang! Magazine cover featured a very sombre Kurt
It included a play on The Smiths lyrics 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now'.
December 1993: A second Kerrang! Magazine cover
16 months later and the tone of the cover is very different with the title: 'Hugs Not Drugs! Kurt Gets Happy!'.
1992: Kurt performing live in a maid’s outfit
1992: Nirvana at the MTV Video Music Awards
August 1992: Nirvana’s legendary Reading Festival performance
9th April 1993: Kurt on-stage with Nirvana at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California
Appearing alongside L7 and The Breeders, the gig was a Bosnian Rape Victim Benefit.
July 1993: Performing at the Roseland Ballroom, New York
1993: Kurt with his wife Courtney Love and one-year-old daughter Frances Bean at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles
Kurt and Courtney married in Hawaii in March 1992 with Kurt infamously wearing his pyjamas to the ceremony!
1993: Kurt at the MTV VMAs ceremony, Los Angeles
1993: At the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards
Nirvana pose with director Kevin Kerslake after receiving an award for best alternative video for 'In Bloom' at the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards.
Kurt pretends to pick his nose with daughter Frances Bean
November 1993: Recording Nirvana’s legendary MTV Unplugged session
December 1993: Performing at MTV Live and Loud, Seattle
February 1994: Live at The Palace, Melbourne
25th February 1994: Nirvana live at Palatrussardi indoor arena in Milan Italy
Their last ever gig took place at Terminal 1 in Munich, Germany six days later.
April 1994: Kurt Cobain dies
171 Lake Washington Blvd East Seattle, Washington, the site of Cobain's death.
16th April 1994: The Kerrang! Magazine cover, 11 days after the Nirvana’s legend’s untimely death
The Sonic Youth t-shirt Kurt wore at Nirvana’s final live performance in Munich, March 1994
The garment was auctioned at the Hard Rock Café in London in July 2012.
2011: A small park in Aberdeen was named ‘Kurt Cobain Landing’ in Kurt’s honour
This plaque quoting Something In The Way lyrics overlooks the Wishkah River.
An electric guitar monument at Kurt Cobain Landing in Seattle
Read more:
Kurt Cobain: A life in pictures
Frances Bean pays poignant tribute to dad Kurt Cobain on his 50th birthday
Kurt Cobain self-portrait expected to fetch huge sum at auction