Hidden City Season 1 Episode 11 Seattle: Kurt Cobain, Barefoot Bandit, Chinatown & The Wah Mee Club

Seattle, also known as the Emerald City, is the focus of this episode of Hidden City. Host Marcus Sakey takes us on a tour of some of Seattle's darker moments and hidden secrets.

The episode begins with a visit to Viretta Park, the site where Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana, was found dead in 1994. Sakey examines the location of Cobain's death and explores the conspiracy theories about his suicide. He speaks with locals who were impacted by Cobain's death and those who still feel his presence in Seattle.

Next, Sakey takes us to Oak Harbor, located on Whidbey Island, to follow the trail of the Barefoot Bandit. The Barefoot Bandit, a teenage criminal named Colton Harris-Moore, became infamous for breaking into homes, stealing cars and boats, and committing other crimes, all while barefoot. Sakey visits the areas where Harris-Moore grew up and interviews a former police officer who was involved in the manhunt for the Barefoot Bandit. The episode examines why Harris-Moore's crimes captivated the nation and how his life of crime eventually came to an end in the Bahamas.

The episode then turns to Seattle's International District, also known as Chinatown, and investigates the Wah Mee Club Massacre. On February 18, 1983, thirteen people were killed at the Wah Mee Club by two assailants who were looking for money. Sakey speaks with a survivor of the massacre, who recounts her experiences, and visits the spot where the club once stood. Through interviews with law enforcement officials and community members, the episode explores how the tragedy impacted Seattle's International District and how it continues to be remembered by those who were affected.

Finally, Sakey examines the Seattle underground, a series of tunnels beneath the city's streets that were once the city's main roadways. These tunnels were built after a devastating fire in 1889 and were used for decades until they were eventually abandoned. Sakey visits the remains of the tunnels, which have been preserved and restored, and explains their place in Seattle's history. He then explores a hidden speakeasy that was located in the tunnels during the prohibition era.

Seattle: Kurt Cobain, Barefoot Bandit, Chinatown & The Wah Mee Club provides a glimpse into the darker side of Seattle's history and some of the secrets that are hidden beneath its streets. Through interviews with locals and those affected by these events, Sakey paints a vivid picture of some of Seattle's most intriguing and haunting moments.