Seattle Space Needle

The Seattle Space Needle is one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

Rising up straight and tall like a sentinel watching over the city, it has become a symbol of the city itself, featured in countless television shows and movies filmed in Seattle. Remember the view from Frasier's window?

If you have never been to the top, you should definitely plan a trip. This year, 2012, the Space Needle turns 50, so it's a good time to visit!

You can save money by using a Seattle CityPASS if you are going to see several Seattle attractions in addition to the Needle.

The View

The view from the top is spectacular, especially on a sunny day. And, yes, we do have sunny days - once in a while! But from the top of the Space Needle, Seattle looks beautiful even in the rain!

A ferry crossing Elliott Bay

Lake Union

Entrance

The Space Needle is located at Seattle Center, about one and a quarter miles from Pike Place Market and downtown. If walking isn't your thing, the Seattle Monorail departs every 10 minutes from Westlake Center at Fifth and Pine Street. The monorail takes you straight to the station at Seattle Center, across from the Space Needle and Experience Music Project. Both round trip and one-way tickets are available.

Looking down on the EMP

The Space Needle elevator takes you 520 ft. straight up into the air and drops you off on the observation deck. You can walk all the way around inside the observation deck, so if it's cold, windy, or rainy, you can still get a fabulous 360 degree view. Outside, however, the view is even better. You can look down and see Key Arena, McCaw Hall, Center House, the fountain and Pacific Science Center. And, of course, here's where you can get a good overhead look at the Experience Music Project building in all its, uh, "glory"!

Free telescopes are set up around the outside observation deck so that you can zoom in on faraway places.

Space Needle Restaurant

The Seattle Space Needle houses a restaurant called SkyCity. It's at the top just below the observation deck. It's a great place for a romantic dinner with a view.

Fireworks

On New Year's Eve, there's a fireworks display from the Needle itself. It's one of the largest on the West Coast. Thousands of people gather at the Seattle Center and thousands more watch from anyplace in town with a view of the Needle. And those who can't do that, watch it on television.

The Gift Shop

The elevator back down lets you out right in the middle of the SpaceBase Gift Shop. This is a pretty nice gift shop with a good selection of souvenirs. One of my favorite items is the Lego Space Needle model!

A little history of the Space Needle

The Seattle Space Needle was built to be the focus of the 1962 World's Fair. The theme of the fair was the futurist Century 21. In 1959, Edward E. Carlson sketched a design inspired by the Stuttgart Tower in Germany on a placemat. Architect John Graham and a team of architects modified and refined it until it became the flying saucer shape that exists today.

The Seattle Needle took 13 months to build from the purchase of the land to the opening day of the World's Fair with the last elevator installed just the day before. The structure is 605 feet tall, weighs 3,700 tons, and sits on a foundation 30 feet deep and 120 feet across. One of the many interesting facts of Space Needle construction is that it took an entire day and 467 cement trucks to fill the foundation. At the time it was built, the Space Needle was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River.

In 1962, it cost $4.5 million to build the Seattle Space Needle. In 2000, it cost $20 million to revitalize it! It has become the symbol of Seattle, seen in movies and television shows, posters and photos, and is Seattle's top tourist destination.

Overlooking Downtown

For more information about hours, tickets, events, and a more detailed 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 51% off these 6 attractions, plus you can skip the lines. You'll save money if you go to at least three.

If there are other places on your list of must-sees, try the Entertainment Book for Seattle.

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