Facts of Space Needle

Looking for facts of Space Needle variety? Here are some of the most sought after details about this most famous and recognizable of all the Seattle tourist attractions.

Facts of Space Needle Structure

• From the ground to the top of the Aircraft Warning Beacon is 605 feet. That's 1,320 Milky Way candy bars in case you were wondering!
• The Observation Deck sits at 520 feet and the SkyCity Restaurant sits at 500 feet above ground.
• The foundation is 30 feet deep and weighs 5,850 tons.
• The tower structure weighs 3,700 tons.
• It took less than 12 hours for 467 cement trucks to fill the foundation hole when the foundation was laid.
• From the bottom of the basement to the top of the Observation Deck, there are 848 steps.
• The Space Needle's center of gravity is only 5 feet above ground.
• It was built to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour.
• Travel time for the elevator to go from ground level to the top-house is 43 seconds, traveling at 10 mph.

Facts of Space Needle Revolving Restaurant

• The SkyCity Restaurant was the world's second revolving restaurant. There are now hundreds of them.
• The original name of the restaurant was "Eye of the Needle".
• The whole restaurant does not rotate, only a 14-foot ring next to the windows.
• It operates on a one-and-a-half horsepower motor.

Famous Visitors

• Elvis Presley starred in "It Happened at the World's Fair" in 1963. He dines at the SkyCity Restaurant in the movie.
• Kelsey Grammar and all the cast of Cheers
• John Travolta
• Mike Myers
• Demi Moore
• Michael Douglas
• Melanie Griffith
• Vanna White
• numerous world leaders and dignitaries, musicians, and professional athletes

Miscellaneous Fun Facts of Space Needle

• Over 2.3 million people visited the Space Needle during the 1962 World's Fair. Today it welcomes over 1 million visitors per year.
• Six parachute jumps have been made from the top, two of which were unauthorized.
• The annual fireworks display and celebration on New Year's Eve is considered to be the West Coast's premier New Year's Eve event.
• Several times the roof of the Space Needle has been painted with the logo of Seattle sports teams including the Mariners, the Supersonics, and the University of Washington Huskies football team.
• Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, won a dinner at SkyCity Restaurant in 1966 when he was eleven years old for memorizing and reciting the Sermon on the Mount for his pastor.

How much did it cost?

The Space Needle was built in 1962 for $4.5 million dollars, and took 13 months to complete. In 2000, it cost $20 million to renovate it.

For more facts about the Needle and its history:
Seattle Space Needle
Located near the Monorail and Seattle Center House at 5th Ave North and Broad Street
206-905-2100
www.spaceneedle.com

See more pictures of the landmark itself on my Space Needle photos page.

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Save money on the Space Needle

• Space Needle
• Pacific Science Center
• Seattle Aquarium
• Experience Music Project
• Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
• Woodland Park Zoo OR The Museum of Flight

I recommend the Seattle CityPASS - it will save you 45% off these 6 attractions, plus you can skip the lines. You'll save money if you go to at least four.

If you have other places on your list too, try the Entertainment Book for Seattle.

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• Check out these movies filmed in Seattle.
• Dine at one of these Restaurants in Seattle WA.
• Find out what's happening on the Seattle Events Calendar.