Any geocacher who visits Seattle's Fremont neighborhood will likely learn the neighborhood's motto:Â De Libertas Quirkas. What does it mean? Well, look around! What's that planet doing on the roof of that building? Why is there a statue of Lenin? Have you seen the giant troll under the bridge?
Fremont prides itself on its quirkiness; that's why our motto is Freedom to be Peculiar. Fremont has a lot to be proud of—from unique small businesses (looking for a geek boutique? a bakery for dogs? an artisanal modern apothecary? Fremont's got it), to interesting public art and murals, to the annual flair of the Solstice Parade.
Fremont is so proud of its peculiarity that it even painted the motto (along with the Fremont crest) high up on a rocket ship in the center of the neighborhood universe. This rocket landed in Fremont in 1994 after several years of negotiations and failed rocket raisings. The nearby information sign tells the whole story.
(Photo by Scott Beale / Laughing Squid, under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license)
The Fremont Rocket in 2006 (notice the crest and De Libertas Quirkas painted on).
In Summer 2022, the caretakers of the rocket began phase I of a multi-phase refurbishment project. As of August 2022, the motto has been painted over, but perhaps phase II will restore it!
Fremont: proud to be peculiar!