diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/chrome_service.test.ts b/src/core/public/chrome/chrome_service.test.ts
index 5840f826ba12..caaa588c2c9f 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/chrome_service.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/chrome_service.test.ts
@@ -202,19 +202,62 @@ Array [
     "baz",
   ],
 ]
+`);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('breadcrumbs', () => {
+    it('updates/emits the current set of breadcrumbs', async () => {
+      const service = new ChromeService();
+      const start = service.start();
+      const promise = start
+        .getBreadcrumbs$()
+        .pipe(toArray())
+        .toPromise();
+
+      start.setBreadcrumbs([{ text: 'foo' }, { text: 'bar' }]);
+      start.setBreadcrumbs([{ text: 'foo' }]);
+      start.setBreadcrumbs([{ text: 'bar' }]);
+      start.setBreadcrumbs([]);
+      service.stop();
+
+      await expect(promise).resolves.toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+Array [
+  Array [],
+  Array [
+    Object {
+      "text": "foo",
+    },
+    Object {
+      "text": "bar",
+    },
+  ],
+  Array [
+    Object {
+      "text": "foo",
+    },
+  ],
+  Array [
+    Object {
+      "text": "bar",
+    },
+  ],
+  Array [],
+]
 `);
     });
   });
 });
 
 describe('stop', () => {
-  it('completes applicationClass$, isCollapsed$, isVisible$, and brand$ observables', async () => {
+  it('completes applicationClass$, isCollapsed$, breadcrumbs$, isVisible$, and brand$ observables', async () => {
     const service = new ChromeService();
     const start = service.start();
     const promise = Rx.combineLatest(
       start.getBrand$(),
       start.getApplicationClasses$(),
       start.getIsCollapsed$(),
+      start.getBreadcrumbs$(),
       start.getIsVisible$()
     ).toPromise();
 
@@ -232,6 +275,7 @@ describe('stop', () => {
         start.getBrand$(),
         start.getApplicationClasses$(),
         start.getIsCollapsed$(),
+        start.getBreadcrumbs$(),
         start.getIsVisible$()
       ).toPromise()
     ).resolves.toBe(undefined);
diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/chrome_service.ts b/src/core/public/chrome/chrome_service.ts
index 1e634aa42e2d..8695385c9d20 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/chrome_service.ts
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/chrome_service.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ export interface Brand {
   smallLogo?: string;
 }
 
+export interface Breadcrumb {
+  text: string;
+  href?: string;
+}
+
 export class ChromeService {
   private readonly stop$ = new Rx.ReplaySubject(1);
 
@@ -44,6 +49,7 @@ export class ChromeService {
     const isVisible$ = new Rx.BehaviorSubject(true);
     const isCollapsed$ = new Rx.BehaviorSubject(!!localStorage.getItem(IS_COLLAPSED_KEY));
     const applicationClasses$ = new Rx.BehaviorSubject<Set<string>>(new Set());
+    const breadcrumbs$ = new Rx.BehaviorSubject<Breadcrumb[]>([]);
 
     return {
       /**
@@ -135,6 +141,18 @@ export class ChromeService {
           map(set => [...set]),
           takeUntil(this.stop$)
         ),
+
+      /**
+       * Get an observable of the current list of breadcrumbs
+       */
+      getBreadcrumbs$: () => breadcrumbs$.pipe(takeUntil(this.stop$)),
+
+      /**
+       * Override the current set of breadcrumbs
+       */
+      setBreadcrumbs: (newBreadcrumbs: Breadcrumb[]) => {
+        breadcrumbs$.next(newBreadcrumbs);
+      },
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/index.ts b/src/core/public/chrome/index.ts
index afc3d237ecec..ac54469e20bd 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/index.ts
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/index.ts
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-export { ChromeService, ChromeStartContract, Brand } from './chrome_service';
+export { Breadcrumb, ChromeService, ChromeStartContract, Brand } from './chrome_service';
diff --git a/src/core/public/legacy_platform/__snapshots__/legacy_platform_service.test.ts.snap b/src/core/public/legacy_platform/__snapshots__/legacy_platform_service.test.ts.snap
index b4a3fb8eface..a1474127605d 100644
--- a/src/core/public/legacy_platform/__snapshots__/legacy_platform_service.test.ts.snap
+++ b/src/core/public/legacy_platform/__snapshots__/legacy_platform_service.test.ts.snap
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ Array [
   "ui/chrome/api/injected_vars",
   "ui/chrome/api/controls",
   "ui/chrome/api/theme",
+  "ui/chrome/api/breadcrumbs",
   "ui/chrome/services/global_nav_state",
   "ui/chrome",
   "legacy files",
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ Array [
   "ui/chrome/api/injected_vars",
   "ui/chrome/api/controls",
   "ui/chrome/api/theme",
+  "ui/chrome/api/breadcrumbs",
   "ui/chrome/services/global_nav_state",
   "ui/test_harness",
   "legacy files",
diff --git a/src/core/public/legacy_platform/legacy_platform_service.test.ts b/src/core/public/legacy_platform/legacy_platform_service.test.ts
index 8abf529a2a6b..957731fb7bcb 100644
--- a/src/core/public/legacy_platform/legacy_platform_service.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/public/legacy_platform/legacy_platform_service.test.ts
@@ -110,6 +110,14 @@ jest.mock('ui/chrome/api/theme', () => {
   };
 });
 
+const mockChromeBreadcrumbsInit = jest.fn();
+jest.mock('ui/chrome/api/breadcrumbs', () => {
+  mockLoadOrder.push('ui/chrome/api/breadcrumbs');
+  return {
+    __newPlatformInit__: mockChromeBreadcrumbsInit,
+  };
+});
+
 const mockGlobalNavStateInit = jest.fn();
 jest.mock('ui/chrome/services/global_nav_state', () => {
   mockLoadOrder.push('ui/chrome/services/global_nav_state');
@@ -272,6 +280,17 @@ describe('#start()', () => {
       expect(mockChromeThemeInit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(chromeStartContract);
     });
 
+    it('passes chrome service to ui/chrome/api/breadcrumbs', () => {
+      const legacyPlatform = new LegacyPlatformService({
+        ...defaultParams,
+      });
+
+      legacyPlatform.start(defaultStartDeps);
+
+      expect(mockChromeBreadcrumbsInit).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(mockChromeBreadcrumbsInit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(chromeStartContract);
+    });
+
     it('passes chrome service to ui/chrome/api/global_nav_state', () => {
       const legacyPlatform = new LegacyPlatformService({
         ...defaultParams,
diff --git a/src/core/public/legacy_platform/legacy_platform_service.ts b/src/core/public/legacy_platform/legacy_platform_service.ts
index 8354b9592f84..54bb912614cb 100644
--- a/src/core/public/legacy_platform/legacy_platform_service.ts
+++ b/src/core/public/legacy_platform/legacy_platform_service.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ export class LegacyPlatformService {
     require('ui/chrome/api/injected_vars').__newPlatformInit__(injectedMetadata);
     require('ui/chrome/api/controls').__newPlatformInit__(chrome);
     require('ui/chrome/api/theme').__newPlatformInit__(chrome);
+    require('ui/chrome/api/breadcrumbs').__newPlatformInit__(chrome);
     require('ui/chrome/services/global_nav_state').__newPlatformInit__(chrome);
 
     // Load the bootstrap module before loading the legacy platform files so that
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/dashboard/dashboard_app.js b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/dashboard/dashboard_app.js
index 3a1fd54a24de..919191885a43 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/dashboard/dashboard_app.js
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/dashboard/dashboard_app.js
@@ -85,11 +85,9 @@ app.directive('dashboardApp', function ($injector) {
       $rootScope,
       $route,
       $routeParams,
-      $location,
       getAppState,
       dashboardConfig,
       localStorage,
-      breadcrumbState,
       i18n,
     ) {
       const filterManager = Private(FilterManagerProvider);
@@ -182,7 +180,7 @@ app.directive('dashboardApp', function ($injector) {
 
       // Push breadcrumbs to new header navigation
       const updateBreadcrumbs = () => {
-        breadcrumbState.set([
+        chrome.breadcrumbs.set([
           {
             text: i18n('kbn.dashboard.dashboardAppBreadcrumbsTitle', {
               defaultMessage: 'Dashboard',
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/dashboard/index.js b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/dashboard/index.js
index a2965219d68b..72280b7bc9d7 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/dashboard/index.js
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/dashboard/index.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import './dashboard_app';
 import './saved_dashboard/saved_dashboards';
 import './dashboard_config';
 import uiRoutes from 'ui/routes';
+import chrome from 'ui/chrome';
 import { toastNotifications } from 'ui/notify';
 
 import dashboardTemplate from './dashboard_app.html';
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ uiRoutes
   })
   .when(DashboardConstants.LANDING_PAGE_PATH, {
     template: dashboardListingTemplate,
-    controller($injector, $location, $scope, Private, config, breadcrumbState, i18n) {
+    controller($injector, $location, $scope, Private, config, i18n) {
       const services = Private(SavedObjectRegistryProvider).byLoaderPropertiesName;
       const dashboardConfig = $injector.get('dashboardConfig');
 
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ uiRoutes
       };
       $scope.hideWriteControls = dashboardConfig.getHideWriteControls();
       $scope.initialFilter = ($location.search()).filter || EMPTY_FILTER;
-      breadcrumbState.set([{
+      chrome.breadcrumbs.set([{
         text: i18n('kbn.dashboard.dashboardBreadcrumbsTitle', {
           defaultMessage: 'Dashboards',
         }),
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/discover/controllers/discover.js b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/discover/controllers/discover.js
index 03acb19a18af..a10ef78da11c 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/discover/controllers/discover.js
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/discover/controllers/discover.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import _ from 'lodash';
 import React from 'react';
 import angular from 'angular';
+import chrome from 'ui/chrome';
 import { getSort } from 'ui/doc_table/lib/get_sort';
 import * as columnActions from 'ui/doc_table/actions/columns';
 import * as filterActions from 'ui/doc_table/actions/filter';
@@ -155,7 +156,6 @@ function discoverController(
   courier,
   kbnUrl,
   localStorage,
-  breadcrumbState,
   i18n,
 ) {
   const Vis = Private(VisProvider);
@@ -320,12 +320,12 @@ function discoverController(
   });
 
   if (savedSearch.id && savedSearch.title) {
-    breadcrumbState.set([{
+    chrome.breadcrumbs.set([{
       text: discoverBreadcrumbsTitle,
       href: '#/discover'
     }, { text: savedSearch.title }]);
   } else {
-    breadcrumbState.set([{
+    chrome.breadcrumbs.set([{
       text: discoverBreadcrumbsTitle,
     }]);
   }
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/visualize/listing/visualize_listing.js b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/visualize/listing/visualize_listing.js
index 997023064f6b..519ed05cc499 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/visualize/listing/visualize_listing.js
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/visualize/listing/visualize_listing.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import 'ui/pager';
 import { uiModules } from 'ui/modules';
 import { timefilter } from 'ui/timefilter';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
+import chrome from 'ui/chrome';
 
 import { VisualizeListingTable } from './visualize_listing_table';
 
@@ -35,7 +36,6 @@ export function VisualizeListingController($injector) {
   const Notifier = $injector.get('Notifier');
   const Private = $injector.get('Private');
   const config = $injector.get('config');
-  const breadcrumbState = $injector.get('breadcrumbState');
 
   timefilter.disableAutoRefreshSelector();
   timefilter.disableTimeRangeSelector();
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export function VisualizeListingController($injector) {
       .catch(error => notify.error(error));
   };
 
-  breadcrumbState.set([{
+  chrome.breadcrumbs.set([{
     text: i18n.translate('kbn.visualize.visualizeListingBreadcrumbsTitle', {
       defaultMessage: 'Visualize',
     })
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/api/angular.js b/src/ui/public/chrome/api/angular.js
index 19fcfa410f24..c9ed0153fe97 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/api/angular.js
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/api/angular.js
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ export function initAngularApi(chrome, internals) {
         $locationProvider.hashPrefix('');
       })
       .run(internals.capture$httpLoadingCount)
+      .run(internals.$setupBreadcrumbsAutoClear)
       .run(($location, $rootScope, Private, config) => {
         chrome.getFirstPathSegment = () => {
           return $location.path().split('/')[1];
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/api/breadcrumbs.ts b/src/ui/public/chrome/api/breadcrumbs.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..83c29a2bcb77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/api/breadcrumbs.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one or more contributor
+ * license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed with
+ * this work for additional information regarding copyright
+ * ownership. Elasticsearch B.V. licenses this file to you under
+ * the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+ * not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+// @ts-ignore
+import { uiModules } from 'ui/modules';
+import { Breadcrumb, ChromeStartContract } from '../../../../core/public/chrome';
+export { Breadcrumb };
+
+let newPlatformChrome: ChromeStartContract;
+export function __newPlatformInit__(instance: ChromeStartContract) {
+  if (newPlatformChrome) {
+    throw new Error('ui/chrome/api/breadcrumbs is already initialized');
+  }
+
+  newPlatformChrome = instance;
+}
+
+export function initBreadcrumbsApi(
+  chrome: { [key: string]: any },
+  internals: { [key: string]: any }
+) {
+  // A flag used to determine if we should automatically
+  // clear the breadcrumbs between angular route changes.
+  let shouldClear = false;
+
+  // reset shouldClear any time the breadcrumbs change, even
+  // if it was done directly through the new platform
+  newPlatformChrome.getBreadcrumbs$().subscribe({
+    next() {
+      shouldClear = false;
+    },
+  });
+
+  chrome.breadcrumbs = {
+    get$() {
+      return newPlatformChrome.getBreadcrumbs$();
+    },
+
+    set(newBreadcrumbs: Breadcrumb[]) {
+      newPlatformChrome.setBreadcrumbs(newBreadcrumbs);
+    },
+  };
+
+  // define internal angular run function that will be called when angular
+  // bootstraps and lets us integrate with the angular router so that we can
+  // automatically clear the breadcrumbs if we switch to a Kibana app that
+  // does not use breadcrumbs correctly
+  internals.$setupBreadcrumbsAutoClear = ($rootScope: any) => {
+    $rootScope.$on('$routeChangeStart', () => {
+      shouldClear = true;
+    });
+
+    $rootScope.$on('$routeChangeSuccess', () => {
+      if (shouldClear) {
+        newPlatformChrome.setBreadcrumbs([]);
+      }
+    });
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/chrome.js b/src/ui/public/chrome/chrome.js
index ffd3e5da2594..7eba95107680 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/chrome.js
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/chrome.js
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import { initAngularApi } from './api/angular';
 import appsApi from './api/apps';
 import { initChromeControlsApi } from './api/controls';
 import { initChromeNavApi } from './api/nav';
+import { initBreadcrumbsApi } from './api/breadcrumbs';
 import templateApi from './api/template';
 import { initChromeThemeApi } from './api/theme';
 import { initChromeXsrfApi } from './api/xsrf';
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ initChromeXsrfApi(chrome, internals);
 initChromeBasePathApi(chrome);
 initChromeInjectedVarsApi(chrome);
 initChromeNavApi(chrome, internals);
+initBreadcrumbsApi(chrome, internals);
 initLoadingCountApi(chrome, internals);
 initAngularApi(chrome, internals);
 initChromeControlsApi(chrome);
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/__snapshots__/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx.snap b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/__snapshots__/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx.snap
index 74243a506a0f..4b97c565f3d4 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/__snapshots__/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/__snapshots__/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx.snap
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
 
-exports[`HeaderBreadcrumbs renders updates to the breadcrumbs observable 1`] = `
+exports[`HeaderBreadcrumbs renders updates to the breadcrumbs$ observable 1`] = `
 <span
   aria-current="page"
   className="euiBreadcrumb euiBreadcrumb--last"
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ exports[`HeaderBreadcrumbs renders updates to the breadcrumbs observable 1`] = `
 </span>
 `;
 
-exports[`HeaderBreadcrumbs renders updates to the breadcrumbs observable 2`] = `
+exports[`HeaderBreadcrumbs renders updates to the breadcrumbs$ observable 2`] = `
 Array [
   <EuiLink
     className="euiBreadcrumb"
@@ -43,4 +43,4 @@ Array [
 ]
 `;
 
-exports[`HeaderBreadcrumbs renders updates to the breadcrumbs observable 3`] = `null`;
+exports[`HeaderBreadcrumbs renders updates to the breadcrumbs$ observable 3`] = `null`;
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header.tsx b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header.tsx
index b22c673450c3..62a32824e877 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
  */
 
 import React, { Component } from 'react';
-import { Subscribable } from 'rxjs';
+import * as Rx from 'rxjs';
 
 import {
   // TODO: add type annotations
@@ -38,11 +38,12 @@ import { HeaderNavControls } from './header_nav_controls';
 
 import { InjectedIntl, injectI18n } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
 import { ChromeHeaderNavControlsRegistry } from 'ui/registry/chrome_header_nav_controls';
-import { Breadcrumb, NavControlSide, NavLink } from '../';
+import { NavControlSide, NavLink } from '../';
+import { Breadcrumb } from '../../../../../../core/public/chrome';
 
 interface Props {
   appTitle?: string;
-  breadcrumbs: Subscribable<Breadcrumb[]>;
+  breadcrumbs$: Rx.Observable<Breadcrumb[]>;
   homeHref: string;
   isVisible: boolean;
   navLinks: NavLink[];
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ class HeaderUI extends Component<Props> {
   }
 
   public render() {
-    const { appTitle, breadcrumbs, isVisible, navControls, navLinks } = this.props;
+    const { appTitle, breadcrumbs$, isVisible, navControls, navLinks } = this.props;
 
     if (!isVisible) {
       return null;
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ class HeaderUI extends Component<Props> {
 
           <HeaderNavControls navControls={leftNavControls} />
 
-          <HeaderBreadcrumbs appTitle={appTitle} breadcrumbs={breadcrumbs} />
+          <HeaderBreadcrumbs appTitle={appTitle} breadcrumbs$={breadcrumbs$} />
         </EuiHeaderSection>
 
         <EuiHeaderSection side="right">
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx
index 73c3724b1a95..dabf36f91317 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx
@@ -19,23 +19,25 @@
 
 import { mount } from 'enzyme';
 import React from 'react';
-import { breadcrumbs, set } from '../../../services/breadcrumb_state';
+import * as Rx from 'rxjs';
+import { Breadcrumb } from '../../../../../../core/public/chrome';
 import { HeaderBreadcrumbs } from './header_breadcrumbs';
 
 describe('HeaderBreadcrumbs', () => {
-  it('renders updates to the breadcrumbs observable', () => {
-    const wrapper = mount(<HeaderBreadcrumbs breadcrumbs={breadcrumbs} />);
+  it('renders updates to the breadcrumbs$ observable', () => {
+    const breadcrumbs$ = new Rx.Subject<Breadcrumb[]>();
+    const wrapper = mount(<HeaderBreadcrumbs breadcrumbs$={breadcrumbs$} />);
 
-    set([{ text: 'First' }]);
+    breadcrumbs$.next([{ text: 'First' }]);
     // Unfortunately, enzyme won't update the wrapper until we call update.
     wrapper.update();
     expect(wrapper.find('.euiBreadcrumb')).toMatchSnapshot();
 
-    set([{ text: 'First' }, { text: 'Second' }]);
+    breadcrumbs$.next([{ text: 'First' }, { text: 'Second' }]);
     wrapper.update();
     expect(wrapper.find('.euiBreadcrumb')).toMatchSnapshot();
 
-    set([]);
+    breadcrumbs$.next([]);
     wrapper.update();
     expect(wrapper.find('.euiBreadcrumb')).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header_breadcrumbs.tsx b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header_breadcrumbs.tsx
index ff880ccbd9f6..828de8bf7d31 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header_breadcrumbs.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/components/header_breadcrumbs.tsx
@@ -18,18 +18,18 @@
  */
 
 import React, { Component } from 'react';
-import { Subscribable, Unsubscribable } from 'rxjs';
+import * as Rx from 'rxjs';
 
 import {
   // @ts-ignore
   EuiHeaderBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@elastic/eui';
 
-import { Breadcrumb } from '../';
+import { Breadcrumb } from '../../../../../../core/public/chrome';
 
 interface Props {
   appTitle?: string;
-  breadcrumbs: Subscribable<Breadcrumb[]>;
+  breadcrumbs$: Rx.Observable<Breadcrumb[]>;
 }
 
 interface State {
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ interface State {
 }
 
 export class HeaderBreadcrumbs extends Component<Props, State> {
-  private unsubscribable?: Unsubscribable;
+  private subscription?: Rx.Subscription;
 
   constructor(props: Props) {
     super(props);
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export class HeaderBreadcrumbs extends Component<Props, State> {
   }
 
   public componentDidUpdate(prevProps: Props) {
-    if (prevProps.breadcrumbs === this.props.breadcrumbs) {
+    if (prevProps.breadcrumbs$ === this.props.breadcrumbs$) {
       return;
     }
 
@@ -73,15 +73,17 @@ export class HeaderBreadcrumbs extends Component<Props, State> {
   }
 
   private subscribe() {
-    this.unsubscribable = this.props.breadcrumbs.subscribe(breadcrumbs => {
-      this.setState({ breadcrumbs });
+    this.subscription = this.props.breadcrumbs$.subscribe(breadcrumbs => {
+      this.setState({
+        breadcrumbs,
+      });
     });
   }
 
   private unsubscribe() {
-    if (this.unsubscribable) {
-      this.unsubscribable.unsubscribe();
-      delete this.unsubscribable;
+    if (this.subscription) {
+      this.subscription.unsubscribe();
+      delete this.subscription;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/header_global_nav.js b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/header_global_nav.js
index 1d6048b3f6b7..10773e22894f 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/header_global_nav.js
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/header_global_nav.js
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import { uiModules } from '../../../modules';
 import { Header } from './components/header';
 import './header_global_nav.less';
 import { chromeHeaderNavControlsRegistry } from 'ui/registry/chrome_header_nav_controls';
-import { breadcrumbs } from '../../services/breadcrumb_state';
 import { injectI18nProvider } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
 
 const module = uiModules.get('kibana');
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ module.directive('headerGlobalNav', (reactDirective, chrome, Private) => {
   {},
   // angular injected React props
   {
-    breadcrumbs,
+    breadcrumbs$: chrome.breadcrumbs.get$(),
     navLinks,
     navControls,
     homeHref
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/index.ts b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/index.ts
index 9b6b7521c2c4..43e0d04916b7 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/index.ts
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/directives/header_global_nav/index.ts
@@ -38,8 +38,3 @@ export interface NavLink {
   id: string;
   euiIconType: IconType;
 }
-
-export interface Breadcrumb {
-  text: string;
-  href?: string;
-}
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/services/breadcrumb_state.ts b/src/ui/public/chrome/services/breadcrumb_state.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 020c9f133396..000000000000
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/services/breadcrumb_state.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one or more contributor
- * license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed with
- * this work for additional information regarding copyright
- * ownership. Elasticsearch B.V. licenses this file to you under
- * the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
- * not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
- * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
- * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
- * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
- * specific language governing permissions and limitations
- * under the License.
- */
-
-import { Subject, Subscribable } from 'rxjs';
-// @ts-ignore
-import { uiModules } from '../../modules';
-import { Breadcrumb } from '../directives/header_global_nav';
-
-// A flag used to keep track of clearing between route changes.
-let shouldClear = false;
-
-// Subject used by Header component to subscribe to breadcrumbs changes.
-// This is not exposed publicly.
-const breadcrumbsSubject = new Subject();
-
-/**
- * A rxjs subscribable that can be used to subscribe to breadcrumb updates.
- */
-export const breadcrumbs: Subscribable<Breadcrumb[]> = breadcrumbsSubject;
-
-/**
- * Should be called by plugins to set breadcrumbs in the header navigation.
- *
- * @param breadcrumbs: Array<Breadcrumb> where Breadcrumb has shape
- *                     { text: '', href?: '' }
- */
-export const set = (newBreadcrumbs: Breadcrumb[]) => {
-  breadcrumbsSubject.next(newBreadcrumbs);
-
-  // If a plugin called set, don't clear on route change.
-  shouldClear = false;
-};
-
-uiModules.get('kibana').service('breadcrumbState', ($rootScope: any) => {
-  // When a route change happens we want to clear the breadcrumbs ONLY if
-  // the new route does not set any breadcrumbs. Deferring the clearing until
-  // the route finishes changing helps avoiding the breadcrumbs from 'flickering'.
-  $rootScope.$on('$routeChangeStart', () => (shouldClear = true));
-  $rootScope.$on('$routeChangeSuccess', () => {
-    if (shouldClear) {
-      set([]);
-    }
-  });
-
-  return { set };
-});
diff --git a/src/ui/public/chrome/services/index.js b/src/ui/public/chrome/services/index.js
index 3c2f2fb71d20..3b3967f51b2f 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/chrome/services/index.js
+++ b/src/ui/public/chrome/services/index.js
@@ -18,4 +18,3 @@
  */
 
 import './global_nav_state';
-import './breadcrumb_state';
diff --git a/src/ui/public/kbn_top_nav/bread_crumbs/bread_crumbs.js b/src/ui/public/kbn_top_nav/bread_crumbs/bread_crumbs.js
index d0674cc68d2d..0c6999388749 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/kbn_top_nav/bread_crumbs/bread_crumbs.js
+++ b/src/ui/public/kbn_top_nav/bread_crumbs/bread_crumbs.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import breadCrumbsTemplate from './bread_crumbs.html';
 import { uiModules } from '../../modules';
 import uiRouter from '../../routes';
+import chrome from '../../chrome';
 
 const module = uiModules.get('kibana');
 
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ module.directive('breadCrumbs', function () {
       useLinks: '='
     },
     template: breadCrumbsTemplate,
-    controller: function ($scope, config, breadcrumbState) {
+    controller: function ($scope, config) {
       config.watch('k7design', (val) => $scope.showPluginBreadcrumbs = !val);
 
       function omitPagesFilter(crumb) {
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ module.directive('breadCrumbs', function () {
           newBreadcrumbs.push({ text: $scope.pageTitle });
         }
 
-        breadcrumbState.set(newBreadcrumbs);
+        chrome.breadcrumbs.set(newBreadcrumbs);
       });
     }
   };
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/Main/Breadcrumbs.js b/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/Main/Breadcrumbs.js
index ba4fd5ed004a..3c3a9568e5d4 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/Main/Breadcrumbs.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/Main/Breadcrumbs.js
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 
 import React from 'react';
 import { withBreadcrumbs } from 'react-router-breadcrumbs-hoc';
+import { flatten, capitalize } from 'lodash';
+
+import chrome from 'ui/chrome';
+
 import { toQuery } from '../../../utils/url';
 import { routes } from './routeConfig';
-import { flatten, capitalize } from 'lodash';
-import { set } from 'ui/chrome/services/breadcrumb_state';
 
 class Breadcrumbs extends React.Component {
   updateHeaderBreadcrumbs() {
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ class Breadcrumbs extends React.Component {
       href: `#${match.url}?_g=${_g}&kuery=${kuery}`
     }));
 
-    set(breadcrumbs);
+    chrome.breadcrumbs.set(breadcrumbs);
   }
 
   componentDidMount() {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/Main/__test__/Breadcrumbs.test.js b/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/Main/__test__/Breadcrumbs.test.js
index ac2a45350997..be57500928f4 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/Main/__test__/Breadcrumbs.test.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/apm/public/components/app/Main/__test__/Breadcrumbs.test.js
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import { toJson } from '../../../../utils/testHelpers';
 jest.mock(
   'ui/chrome',
   () => ({
+    breadcrumbs: {
+      set: () => {}
+    },
     getBasePath: () => `/some/base/path`,
     getUiSettingsClient: () => {
       return {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/components/nav_menu/nav_menu.js b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/components/nav_menu/nav_menu.js
index 2ead5f96dd40..12425b7fa6c5 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/components/nav_menu/nav_menu.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/ml/public/components/nav_menu/nav_menu.js
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@ import _ from 'lodash';
 import $ from 'jquery';
 import template from './nav_menu.html';
 import uiRouter from 'ui/routes';
+import chrome from 'ui/chrome';
 import { isFullLicense } from '../../license/check_license';
 
 import { uiModules } from 'ui/modules';
 const module = uiModules.get('apps/ml');
 
-module.directive('mlNavMenu', function (breadcrumbState, config) {
+module.directive('mlNavMenu', function (config) {
   return {
     restrict: 'E',
     transclude: true,
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ module.directive('mlNavMenu', function (breadcrumbState, config) {
       scope.breadcrumbs = breadcrumbs.filter(Boolean);
 
       config.watch('k7design', (val) => scope.showPluginBreadcrumbs = !val);
-      breadcrumbState.set(scope.breadcrumbs.map(b => ({ text: b.label, href: b.url })));
+      chrome.breadcrumbs.set(scope.breadcrumbs.map(b => ({ text: b.label, href: b.url })));
 
       // when the page loads, focus on the first breadcrumb
       el.ready(() => {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/services/breadcrumbs_provider.js b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/services/breadcrumbs_provider.js
index 1b1cff5652af..8d3adcb541e9 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/services/breadcrumbs_provider.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/monitoring/public/services/breadcrumbs_provider.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import { set as setBreadcrumbs } from 'ui/chrome/services/breadcrumb_state';
+import chrome from 'ui/chrome';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 
 // Helper for making objects to use in a link element
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ export function breadcrumbsProvider() {
       breadcrumbs = breadcrumbs.concat(getApmBreadcrumbs(mainInstance));
     }
 
-    setBreadcrumbs(breadcrumbs.map(b => ({ text: b.label, href: b.url })));
+    chrome.breadcrumbs.set(breadcrumbs.map(b => ({ text: b.label, href: b.url })));
 
     return breadcrumbs;
   };