The Space Needle is an iconic observation tower in Seattle, Washington, United States, designed by John Graham Jr. for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, it was built in the Seattle Center for the event, which attracted over 2.3 million visitors. The Space Needle, 603 meters tall, was designated an official City of Seattle Landmark on April 21, 1999, marking its 37th anniversary.
The Space Needle’s concept began in 1959 when Seattle World’s Fair Commission chair Edward Carlson drew his vision of what would become the Space Needle while traveling. Leaning on history and the fact that the Space Needle’s profile is a historic landmark, the decision was made to launch the Space Needle from the past to the future.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began a 10-year project of remapping the earth by satellite, using major structures like the Space Needle as landmarks. In 1988, Tim Firnstahl and the city’s Landmarks Preservation Board named the Space Needle a historic landmark.
The Space Needle is a unique example of an urban monument, as it encompasses the historic uses and typical functions of observatories, monuments, and towers. It opened on April 21, 1962, the first day of the fair, and has been under renovation for the past two decades.
As a landmark, the Space Needle continues to be a significant part of Seattle’s cultural heritage and serves as a symbol of the city’s rich history.
📹 What’s inside the Space Needle?
Come see the inside of the Space Needle in Seattle Washington! More Links BelowThis video has been dubbed in over 20 …
Is it safe to visit the Space Needle?
The Space Needle utilizes the Evolv Edge® high-speed smart checkpoint system at its entrances for guest safety, employing millimeter wave technology that emits no signal and operates in a frequency band similar to screening units in U. S. airports.
What landmark was built for the World’s Fair?
The Eiffel Tower, designed by Gustave Eiffel and Maurice Koechlin, was proposed for the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, marking the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Despite initial disapproval, the tower was built to showcase the latest technology, advancements, products, art, and entertainment. Each World’s Fair featured a large centerpiece that showcased the host nation’s abilities and served as a giant icon. Five notable structures made their debut at a World’s Fair include the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and the Statue of Liberty.
What is the most famous landmark?
The Colosseum, a 2000-year-old monument in ancient Rome, is a must-see for its gladiator combat, wild animal hunts, and naval ship battles. Other famous landmarks include the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Machu Picchu, Statue of Liberty, Sagrada Familia, Great Wall of China, and Angkor Wat. The Taj Mahal is a must-see, and travelers flock to iconic landmarks for their breathtaking testaments to human ingenuity and past days. Despite crowds and steep admission prices, watching the sun set over Paris from the Eiffel Tower is a memorable experience.
What are 5 interesting facts about the Space Needle?
The Space Needle, a privately owned building in Seattle, was built in 1961 and is an iconic landmark that blends history, architecture, and innovation. Its design was inspired by a German broadcast tower and was an ambitious project that made history. Visitors from around the world flock to the Space Needle for its height, unique structure, and rich stories that make it a symbol of human ingenuity and creativity. The tower’s allure lies in its ability to blend the past with the present, offering a window into the dreams and aspirations of a bygone era while remaining a relevant and exciting destination today.
As a beacon of Seattle’s architectural prowess and cultural significance, the Space Needle stands as a testament to the city’s ongoing evolution and commitment to preserving its unique heritage. Whether it’s the first or tenth visit, there’s always something new to discover about this iconic structure, making each visit a unique experience filled with awe and wonder.
What is the famous landmark in Seattle called?
The Space Needle is a landmark observation tower in Seattle, Washington, built in 1962 for the 1962 World’s Fair. Located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, it was once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River and weighs 9, 550 short tons. The tower is 138 ft wide, weighs 9, 660 metric tons, and can withstand winds of up to 200 mph and earthquakes of up to 9. 0 magnitude. Visitors can ascend to an observation deck 520 ft above ground in 41 seconds, offering panoramic views of downtown Seattle, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay, and Puget Sound islands.
Why is the Space Needle pink today?
Seattle’s Space Needle was lit pink during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Washington. Yahoo, part of the Yahoo family, uses cookie policy cookies to provide services, authenticate users, apply security measures, prevent spam and abuse, and measure user usage of its sites and apps.
What is the historical significance of the Space Needle?
On April 21, 1999, the Space Needle celebrated its 37th birthday, becoming an official City of Seattle Landmark. The landmark represents American aspirations towards technological prowess and embodies the belief in commerce, technology, and progress. In 2000, the tower underwent a $20 million revitalization, including construction of the Pavilion Level, SpaceBase retail store, SkyCity restaurant, Observation Deck improvements, exterior lighting, and painting. In 2012, the Space Needle sponsored “Space Race 2012”, a contest to select one lucky individual to win an actual flight into orbit, announced by Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo 11 astronaut.
Was the Space Needle built for the World’s fair?
The Space Needle, a 605-foot-tall landmark built in 1962 as a cultural centerpiece for the 1962 World’s Fair, symbolizes humanity’s Space Age aspirations and represents the innovative spirit of Seattle. Its 520-foot saucer-shaped “top house” offers 360-degree indoor and outdoor panoramic views of downtown, Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, and the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges, making it one of the most photographed and recognized structures globally.
What is the most famous world’s fair?
World’s Fairs, also known as international expositions or universal exhibitions, have been around since the mid-19th century. The first World’s Fair, The Great Exhibition, was held in London in 1851 and attracted over six million visitors. The event became a popular way to promote international cooperation and showcase the best of each nation’s achievements. Some of the most iconic World’s Fairs include the 1889 Paris Exposition, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the 1967 Expo in Montreal.
Our World’s Fair collection began with a tunnel book souvenir from The Great Exhibition in 1851 and has grown to include postcards, postage stamps, ephemera, and books from the World’s Fairs held in the United States since 1893. We also have a large collection of materials from the 1897 Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition.
However, our collection has reached a crossroads and could transform into a larger, discrete collection. We must consider whether we want to continue expanding and broadening the collection based on audience or need.
Why is the Space Needle pink?
Seattle’s Space Needle was lit pink during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Washington. Yahoo, part of the Yahoo family, uses cookie policy cookies to provide services, authenticate users, apply security measures, prevent spam and abuse, and measure user usage of its sites and apps.
Is the Space Needle worth it?
Seattle’s Space Needle is a must-see attraction for first-time visitors, with reviews suggesting purchasing tickets online in advance or arriving early to avoid long lines. Some visitors have purchased a combo ticket that includes access to Chihuly Garden and Glass. To avoid the steep admission fee ($35-$39 for adults and $26-$29 for children aged 5-12), consider purchasing a CityPASS that includes admission to additional attractions or combining your Space Needle ticket with the entrance fee to the nearby Chihuly Garden and Glass. The CityPASS allows visitors to visit twice in 24 hours, providing both day and night views. Viator offers guided tours that combine visits to the Space Needle with other attractions.
📹 Why Was the Seattle Space Needle Built? | It’s History On Air
Ever wondered how a doodle on a napkin transformed into Seattle’s most iconic landmark? The Space Needle, standing at 605 …
Before retiring in 2009, I commuted to work in Seattle from the North suburbs for 25 years. I saw the Space Needle 5 days a week and never got tired of seeing it. Going to the top, which I did several times, is not necessary to appreciate the fact that it’s one of the most beautiful, distinctive and futuristic looking structures ever built.
I did have a chance to dine there when they had the revolving restaurant at the top. The food was super expensive, and not particularly great. However, the experience was well worth it. One of my favorite things was kids putting cards/papers on the stationary ridge – as the restaurant revolved, people would take the card when it got to their table and write down where they traveled from to get there and maybe a short comment, then replace it on the sill. By the time it got back to the original kid/person, there would be a bunch of signatures and messages from much of the restaurant – representing travelers from around the world. A great tradition and fine souvenir of the experience. Iconic structure
I remember my family visiting there in 1980. A little different at the time, we enjoyed dinner at the top of the needle, I remember being fascinated by the fact that the whole restaurant was slowly spinning, as I looked down I could see the bright lights of a Kiss concert in some stadium at the time. Star Trek the motion picture had just been released and they had mannequins decked out in star trek gear I thought was cool as an 11 yr old….great memories….
Man, if my family visited this when I was a kid, I probably would have cried very loudly, for I had a horrible fear of heights when I was a kid. (Couldn’t stand those net bridges at McDonalds PlayPlace) Nowadays, I might be able to do it, but I would not be able to look at the glass floor. I might pass out.
Great article. I was seven years old when I visited the Worlds Fair in 1962. I lived in Oregon so it seemed like an all day trip to get to Seattle.. The Monorail was cool but it was the Space Needle I loved the most. It really did seem like I was in outer space. As a very special treat in 1970 I ate in the restaurant and was shocked at the prices. Coffee was 50 cents while most restaurants were only charging a dime. My coke was a dollar. But it was the view I was there for. The tables moved around so the view was ever changing. In 2000 I ate dinner in the CN tower in Toronto which is a much taller tower. The Toronto Blue Jays were playing a game near the base of the tower so we could see the tiny looking players. Great memories.
I served my Dinner Cook apprenticeship at the Space Needle 74-76. It could get rocking and rolling during a windy winter storm and the elevator’s would cease operation. There was also some swinging going on. There was no skyline level or base entry. The main kitchen is located in the center with a prep kitchen one floor down. It was a fun experience, and a lot of hard work during the Summer season.
I dined in that restaurant in the Spring of 1968 as a kid. Remarkably, my parents got to have a family lunch there without prior reservations. The vivid memory of the rotating restaurant was the view of the plentiful brick buildings in Seattle. My dad said the view was similar of what existed in East Coast (US) cities of that era. The other memory was at the ground floor of the Space Needle, with the gigantic sized bolts and nuts seen as foundation anchors for the tower. My older brother questioned about the size of the wrench it took to tighten the nuts to the bolts.
Makes me think of a new Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego episode “Space Needle Lost Out Seattle” Lynne Thigpen: The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle, Washington, United States. Considered to be an icon of the city, it has been designated a Seattle landmark. Located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, built in the Seattle Center for the 1962 World’s Fair, which drew over 2.3 million visitors. The Space Needle is the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River, standing at 605 ft (184 m). The tower is 138 ft (42 m) wide, weighs 9,550 short tons (8,660 metric tons), built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) and earthquakes of up to 9.0 magnitude, as strong as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake. The Space Needle features an observation deck 520 ft (160 m) above ground, providing views of the downtown Seattle skyline, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay, and various islands in Puget Sound. Visitors can reach the top of the Space Needle by elevators, which take 41 seconds. On April 19, 1999, the city’s Landmarks Preservation Board designated the tower a historic landmark. However, that changed all that when Kneemoi flew over Seattle, targets the Space Needle, zaps with her tractor beam and flies away. What would Seattle be like without the Space Needle? Your mission gumshoes, round up Kneemoi behind bars, return the Space Needle to Seattle, then bring Carmen Sandiego to justice. I made this as an example.
As a child I had my first trip up the elevators. As a teenager, my first time I got high (well, among the first few, first hashish exp) was up in the space needle. During my 20s I had a girlfriend who worked their, so I was able to go up a lot. After moving away in 2000 I infrequently still love seeing my city from up there. Thanks for the incredible work and depiction of the amazing structure. ❤
I’m on the spectrum and I cannot thank you enough for this type of article. I’m not planning on visiting the space needle anytime soon but it is SO NICE to see everything that I might encounter explained to me. New experiences are really scary for me, so being able to see and understand all of the steps and what to do helps me a lot. I’d be very interested in other articles of this type! Especially if they show cool things to look out for; I can’t wait to brave the rotating loupe and see the gears for myself!
I did some work for Boeing in Seattle many years ago (I’m from England) and happened to meet a very beautiful girl from DC who was also visiting Seattle. We ended up very close for the remaining days we had there. Roll on 20 years later and although I’m back in the UK, she and I still remain close friends via social media. We had a great experience on the Space Needle.
The glass cleaners have a crawl space underneath the rotating floor. It’s epic. There are plenty of cool maintenance and cleaning areas that only employees are allowed. I was being trained and told the glass weighed 2300lbs 7ft x 11ft tall. It’s essentially bullet proof glass. And because of Covid the skyline is a break room, restaurant is closed. But not a ton of people there now so check it and Chihuly Gardens out
We dinned in the restaurant on May 1st 1992 during the Rodney King riots. There were only 6 other patrons in the restaurant.. It was surreal seeing the fires and commotion in downtown Seattle. We were going to cancel or reservations, but one of the women I interacted with with my employer was an police Dispatcher in a previous job. She mapped out out the roads we needed to take to and from Bellevue WA to be safe. Her directions worked flawlessly. That was our only trip to Seattle.
Originally, the “Loupe” floor was not glass, and was a fine dining restaurant. The seating was on the part that revolved, and the speed was 1 revolution per hour — powered by a 1 horsepower electric motor. Had lunch there in 1965. While the floor revolved, the outer wall did not, and people would often put things on the shelf-like rim and temporarily lose them. There was also a slight but constant jiggle to it.
I was there at the 1962 World’s Fair. I was only 6 years old but remember going up the Space Needle. Back then there was no Skyline Level. Instead it was ringed with big loud speakers and there was a live organ being played on the ground level with the organ music blasting from the speakers. You could very definitely hear the organ music as you passed the speakers in the elevator to the top of the Needle. Heck of a memory, huh?
As a kid in 1968, my family restaurant-dined at the circular moving level atop the Space Needle. What I recall on that overcast Spring day: – With the circular-moving floor the restaurant was located at, the family was puzzled how the waitresses managed to keep track of serving the right tables, given the movement of the tables from the time the food order was placed to having it delivered. – The massively large bolts and nuts at the anchoring foundation of the Space Needle. I recall wondering how the workers managed to affix a wrench on the nuts to tighten them onto the bolts. – The view atop the Space Needle, there was an abundance of commercial brick buildings in the neighborhood. My dad commented that it reminded him of commercial neighborhoods found on the East Coast decades earlier. –
I went to the space needle as a kid and I remember the restaurant with the rotating floor. Kids in the restaurant would write notes to each other and put them on the edge. Seattle was one of my favorite vacations as a kid. Our hotel room was right on the water, and I remember my parents thought it was okay to leave the curtains open so we could look out at the water as we went to sleep, then we woke up the next morning and a cruise ship had docked right there. 😂
The 2017 renovation is pretty amazing. The fact that you are three or four feet higher gives you a much more free feeling on the observation deck. They also had to make the elevators drop you off on the new floor. When the restaurants were on the lower deck, the (then carpeted) floor spun at 1 revolution per minute, and if I remember correctly they said that the motor was 1/2 horsepower. Someone who knows for sure, feel free to check me on that. I’d love to know how much power it is now with all that glass. But the new updates are really nice. My wife and I went up and spent the evening perusal the sunset. It does cost quite a bit more than the original ticket, but it’s worth the cost.
Do not be afraid of heights !!!! The elevator gos hellah fast . my husky service dog loved it so did my wife.. Out on the outside deck its see through… Our dog loved that so much.. And people were just whaching him to see him freak out… Not jack he loved it big time.. it was amazing to watch people looking at our dog loving what he was doing it was incredible.. We’re going back soon i hope its close…
I’ll point out that it’s actually not the only rotating structure in the world. There is, or was one in Bangkok, Thailand, and in Atlanta the Sundial restaurant at the top of the Weston Peachtree Atlanta can and normally does turn in the same manner the Space Needle does. At present they are not currently operating it, but I suspect they’ve been planning an update on the space as a whole.
I saw the Space needle from the air on my way to Akaska. We had to switch flights there. I also saw the volcanoes in the distance. We never had time to enjoy anything. We had to take a tram to the other end of the Airport because you couldn’t walk the entire distance and still make your flight on time. I felt like I was on a shuttle or subway system but it was within the airport.
I remember my father worked on the Space Needle roof during the original construction. I had the good fortune to work on the remodel of the Space Needle for a couple of months in 2018 just from my retirement from the plastering trade. Interesting side note. When my mother saw my fathers picture with his crew on the cover of Time Magazine on the roof of the Space Needle he purchased life insurance the very next day.
I grew up in San Antonio, home of the similar Tower of Americas, which I visited many times. I lived for a while in Las Vegas, home to the similar (but WAY taller) Stratosphere Tower, which I visited many times. I guess I’m gonna have to get to Seattle to see the Space Needle at some time in my life.
Jared you left out the Private Apartment/Home inside the Top! And I need a Ready-To-3D Print Version of this… BAD! Absolutely GREAT JOB! Anybody remember how people used to put notes or cards that said “hello” on the ledge in the restaurant so they’d pass by and return in 45 mins? My sister and I did once after Dad told us about it, and we saw others doing it. Always thought the food was great as a kid, but I choose what I know I’ll enjoy on menus, so. Can’t remember what I ate though lol, probably Steamed Clams or Bacon Burger. Maybe misremembering but I’m thinking it was around $8 to go up in mid 90’s, but you could go in the giftshop for free which I did often. Loved all the models of Ferry’s, Space Needles, Orcas, Totem Poles, etc. For some reason I remember the Gift shop having also been on the Skyline Level? If I’m ever back in Seattle I’m checking out the glass, not too badly afraid of heights but the elevator ride was scary lol! RIP Seattle 🙁
Aaah yes i remember living in seattle in between 2006-2007 when i was a kid and always went there to see the tower and play all Kinds of games that once were close to the tower and go to the Gift-shop and buy a space Needle lolipop, that was one of the most beautiful childhood memories and experiences i ever had, to bad i didn’t get to go to elevator Cuase back then i was afraid of heights XD.
Many people think the Space Needle is the tallest building in Seattle. This is vastly incorrect. The Space Needle is 605 feet. But there are 8 towers taller, including the recently completed Rainier Square Tower at 850 feet and the Columbia Tower at 937 feet. Seattle almost had a supertall in the 80s.
I don”t know when it was added but the skyline restaurant was added later it was not there when it was first built and also originally there was a restaurant in the area that rotated below the observation deck when it was originally built I don’t know when that was changed. So at one time you could sit in the restaurant and see the skyline and the view would rotate. I was aware of the renovations in 2017, but until perusal this article I didn’t know the original rotating restaurant had been removed. Also the screen was not orginal construction it was added later to keep people from trying to jump and do diving stunts from the observation deck. I just saw reply below from someone who worked there the Skyline Restaurant was added in the 1980’s in case you don’t read down that far.
Please make a article on the CN Tower in Toronto. It’s as iconic a part of the skyline as the Space Needle is but it’s taller and has glass floors freaking everywhere. The restaurant rotates too but the real view is from the SkyPod where you can look at the top of the main observation deck or, on a clear day, Rochester, NY. The world’s tallest freestanding structure for over 30 years, the CN Tower is a perfect subject for your website. Thanks, eh.
Yeah my grandp father who has passed away now Preformed some electrical work on the space needle while it was under construction, Left several color photos of himself preforming work at the top of the tower while it was under Construction, We have various color color pics stored away in a large photo album pretty interesting I must say,
This is amazing….HOWEVER, in describing building it for the 1962 world’s fair, you made one big error. The lower observation deck(skyline level)wasn’t built until the 1980’s. I’m saddened to find out the restaurant isn’t there anymore…had some great meals there. Dining at a table that showed the city slowly rotated around you was magical.
I am wanting change to Wichita one of the smallest skylines in the Midwest. I came up with the idea 9f The Wichita Aerospace Needle and if built would be about 500-510 feet to the observatory deck and 570 to 580 feet to the tip of the needle. Somewhat similar to The Seattle Space Needle but a tad bit shorter.
I think they have added a lot to the Space needle since 1980. It was out remote from most things except pay car-parks and was sadly tatty. I do not recall all that building work at the base and it was in sad condition up top. The restaurant might have been better, but we just went for the view. The view was obstructed by what I think must be a suicide prevention fence. I had to go up it since I remembered it from the 1962 World fair promotions on TV – and back then it was indeed a symbol of the future. The monorail too was part of the World fair, and also was a symbol of the future – been on that too. I don’t think the additions have enhanced the needle, but they might help it pay.
The Space Needle is privately owned by the same family who owned the Everett, WA construction firm who built this iconic structure. It was never completed from its original concept of containing a lower level (completed in 1982), a mid level (never completed), & of course the top level which was completed in time for the opening of the “Century 21 Worlds Fair Exposition of 1962” -the only Worlds Fair that has ever turned a profit at time of its closing. The original fair grounds are owned by the city of Seattle & still exist as Seattle Center, but the Space Needle is privately owned property located on private property owned by the family of the man whose construction firm (since sold) conceived the design on a cocktail napkin with business leaders from Tacoma & Everett, WA who were in Germany & met to discuss what the center-piece of such a fair would detail.
Cool article. I’ve never been here. My dad has been there. I always thought it was really similar to the one at the stratosphere in Vegas, but it is not. That building is 1080 on the top floor where the elevator comes to (which is higher than 184 meters), has windows that are slanted lower(45° I think), doesn’t spin, and has rides on top that I’m too scared to do. But my late brother was much more scared. He would go to the top floor but didn’t go anywhere near the windows that I would lay on for great views of the city. It’s by far the tallest building in Vegas and I’ve been there four or five times. I don’t know too much about the construction but I’m assuming it’s pretty different from the space needle. There is a casino at the bottom (of course) and it does have a monorail that goes to it from the Hilton where Elvis Presley performed and held a record of Vegas live performance numbers that I believe Penn and Teller have beaten, but I’m not sure. I know someone beat it. There is no skyline level but the needle skyline level looks like the perfect place for graduations, weddings, or whatever gatherings you could think of. Stratosphere does have a restaurant on the top floor too. Last time I was there the cost of the ride to the top was $14.99 for adults, but that was over 15 years ago. I always thought that a Zipline from the top down to near street level would be fun. It could easily be over a mile long and take a good several minutes to ride but it would end several blocks away and would probably be a logistics nightmare to build.
Basic modeling (done well), solid color rendering (possibly use more textures in the future). But a lot of render time. I had one Silicon Graphics Indigo, and two Indigo II Extremes in 1993 and ran Alias Animator. Tailoring the textures and detail then final render (what level) were always a task. Well done. Maybe try MAYA or Alias in the future for a better render engine. Will be interesting to see more of your work. Bravo.
If only we can make buildings grow. This Space Needle by its awesome futuristic appearance deserves to be 10 times its height. But it would be controversial. Damn I miss being a little kid growing up in Seattle believing the Space Needle was the tallest thing ever built and it was as a kid the coolest tower in the world. Today as a 19 year old, for me personally it stands as a beacon for all the memories I had.