Pullman is known as the home of the WSU Cougars, the lentil capital of the world and also, the location of the Junk Castle.
Located along Interstate 195, the Junk Castle has been attracting visitors for over 30 years. It’s constructed entirely from recycled, salvaged and scrapped materials, and is worth driving by while you’re in Pullman.
The Junk Castle Artist
Now a historical landmark, this castle was originally built by Victor Moore. The castle was built for the low price of $500 as a part of his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree. Although the castle is probably his best-known work, he also had a love for Northwest Indian culture, and his work was displayed in galleries across the U.S. Moore passed away in late 2013 in California.
The Junk Castle’s windows are made from old washer glass. Twisted sheet metal, bedsteads and more make up the framework of this eclectic dwelling. You have to admire the dedication that went into piecing all of these abstract and ill-fitting parts together. But this wasn’t Moore’s first rendezvous with buildings made of scrapped material. Back in the 1950’s he had already begun experimenting with building sculptures and living spaces from recycled goods.
Visiting The Castle
The castle is on private property not open to the public, so if you are hoping to get up close to it for photos, please ask the current homeowner. The castle is accessed off Armstrong Road in Pullman.
It doesn’t matter if you’re just driving through on your way to Pullman or specifically trekking to this castle of reused items – it’s worth snapping a few pictures.
