Wishkah River facts for kids

The Wishkah River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. It flows into the Chehalis River. The Wishkah River is about 40 miles (64 km) long. It drains a quiet, rural area of about 102 square miles (264 square kilometers) in Grays Harbor County. This area is along the Washington coast, just north of the city of Aberdeen. The river flows south through the county and joins the Chehalis River in Aberdeen.

The name "Wishkah" comes from the Chehalis Indian word hwish-kahl. This word means "stinking water."

Wishkah River and Music

The Wishkah River is known to many because of the band Nirvana. The band's lead singer, Kurt Cobain, grew up in Aberdeen.

Kurt Cobain's Connection

The Nirvana song "Something in the Way" is thought to be about Kurt Cobain's experiences living under a bridge on the Wishkah River. This was after he left high school and his mother's home. However, his biographer, Charles R. Cross, said that this story was mostly a myth made up by Cobain himself.

After Kurt Cobain's death, some of his ashes were scattered in the Wishkah River.

Nirvana's Live Album

Nirvana also released a live album called From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah. This album was put together after Kurt Cobain passed away. It was released on October 1, 1996. The album features live performances recorded by the band between 1989 and 1994.