It’s certainly not the tallest tower in the world, yet the Seattle Space Needle is the number one tourist attraction in the Northwest United States attracting over one million visitors annually. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it was considered a space-age wonder.
It takes only 41 seconds from the ground to the observation deck located at 520 feet. The tower’s top sits at just 184 metres (605 feet). Compare this to 328 m for the Auckland Sky Tower in New Zealand, 527 m for the Willis Tower in Chicago, or 830 m for the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
At a cost of $4.5 million dollars, the Space Needle was built in just 400 days and was ready in time for the fair. At the time it was built, it was state of the art and the tallest building west of the Mississippi.
The observation deck is both indoors and outdoors, allowing for clearer photos than I can capture at other towers where I am often looking through fingerprint covered glass windows. My favorite Space Needle views from the top:
Photo Credit: Supplied by Seattle Space Needle
Depending on where you are staying, getting to the Space Needle can be part of the fun. Also built in the then modern “George Jetson” style, the Seattle Center Monorail has remained in operation since it opened for the World’s Fair in 1962. It has only two stops, running for one mile between 5th Avenue and Pine Street to the Space Needle complex. It is the first full-scale commercial monorail system built in the USA.
We stayed at the fun and funky Hotel Monaco. It’s a fabulous boutique style accommodation that has everything you could want, even daily afternoon wine tasting. We loved it and recommend it. If you stay there too, be sure to ask at the front desk for monorail passes. They had them when we were there, so our ride was free. Click here to read our full review of Hotel Monaco.
Interesting Information on the Seattle Space Needle Views:
- The SkyCity Restaurant is the world’s second revolving restaurant. It sits at 500 feet.
- Two of the elevators travel at 10 mph, the same speed in which a raindrop falls to earth. Snow falls slower (at only 3 mph). If you are in an elevator during a snowstorm, it appears to be snowing upwards.
- Over 2.3 million people visited the Space Needle during the World’s Fair.
- And the most random information I could find comes from CHEESE (The Committee Hoping for Extra-Terrestrial Encounters to Save the Earth). They claim possession of plans from the 1962 World’s Fair that show the Space Needle was constructed to send transmissions to advanced beings in other solar systems.
- Want more, check out these Fun Facts about the Space Needle.
Practical Information on visiting the Space Needle:
- The Space Needle is open every day from 8 am until midnight. They do close occasionally for special events, so check their website for hours and directions before you go.
- Tickets can be purchased for the Space Needle alone, as a combination with Chihuly Glass, or as part of Seattle CityPASS.
- Seattle CityPASS ticket holders can enter twice within 24 hours to see the sights at both day and night. If you are in Seattle for a few days, the pass is a great deal. And it was easy to use.
- Best time to visit is before 11 am or after 7 pm when it is generally less crowded.
- Be sure to stop for your free photo before getting into the elevator.
- There is a bar on the observation deck offering wine, beer, juice, bar snacks and some sweets.
Have you been in the Seattle Space Needle? Which are your favourite towers around the world?
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Disclaimer: A guest of the Seattle Space Needle, I was also provided with a Seattle CityPASS. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Paula McInerney
You certainly covered a lot of heights during your recent trip. Lovely the family photo. Mt Rainier looks superb
Rhonda Albom
I hadn’t really thought about it that way, but you are correct. We were on top of things quite often.
Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute
Seattle is such a cool city, and when Rainier is out it’s almost magical! I really love walking around the EMP Museum and the rest of the Seattle Center. Great article Rhonda!
Rhonda Albom
We also walked through the EMP musuem, amongst several others. I will be writing about Seattle for another week.
budget jan
Mt. Rainier and the boats in harbour are beautiful shots. The observation deck certainly provides for good photo taking. I didn’t realize Mt. Rainier was so clearly visible and so beautiful.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – I had no idea either, but there she was towering in all her glory.
Lisa Ross
Wow. I think I’d like Seattle
Rhonda Albom
I think so too. I have several more posts coming. It’s a wonderful city.
Lyndall
Love your photos, of course Rhonda! The view with Mt Rainier in the background is rather special. Great to be able to take pics without the fingerprinted glass in front of you too 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Funny thing is I was looking close in and down at first and when I finally looked out at the horizon, Mt Rainier took me by surprise.
Jade @ Captured By Jade
Panoramic city views like this are always quite breath taking.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Jade – and the nice day helps 🙂
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Quite a sight especially the sunset one. You are quite a photographer Rhonda. I’m happy that you have enjoyed a wonderful vacation, one that you probably won’t ever see again. ( unless you decide going on another one, please go. )
Enjoy your day my friend. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Paul. As a travel writer, they are working holidays, not really vacations – although that would be nice.
Anda
I’ll have to go visit Seattle, Rhonda. You beat me to it. The view from the Needle is fantastic and so are your pictures.
Rhonda Albom
You could almost do it as a weekend getaway.
Lydia C. Lee
I didn’t realise it had an open viewing thing…
Rhonda Albom
Honestly, I didn’t either, but once I was on it, in my mind it elevated it quickly to one of my favorite towers world wide, and we have been up plenty of towers.
Ruth
The second photo with Rainier in the background is great. This is one of the things I would not like to miss in Seattle.
Rhonda Albom
It was funny, I was looking close in at first, and I was somehow really surprised to notice Mt. Rainier the first time it was suddenly in my field of view.
Ann
I haven’t been in years! I think it’s the views of Mt. Rainer that make it so popular. And, I also remember that they played a lot of space/rocket themed music there. I especially remember hearing Elton John’s Rocket Man several times.
My favorite tower is probably the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai. But, I didn’t have quite as clear of a day when I visited so the views weren’t as good as yours were in Seattle.
Rhonda Albom
I don’t remember Rocket Man specifically, but there was a definite theme going on. It’s just a fun tower to visit.
Janie Junebug
Yes, I have been in the Space Needle several times, and I’m glad you got to go. It’s been quite a few years since I was there, but we loved eating in the revolving restaurant on special occasions. Once we ate there when it was snowing. So beautiful. I’ve also gone up in the Empire State Building. Once when I was in Chicago with my daughter and her boyfriend we hoped to go up in the Sears building, but didn’t do so because it was quite expensive and so foggy we wouldn’t have been able to see anything. I hope you’re having a great trip. I love the Pacific Northwest. We lived near Seattle for a little more than three years. I’ve always been disappointed that we left. It was not my choice.
Love,
Janie
Rhonda Albom
This trip I did get to one revolving restaurant, but it was in Los Angeles (story coming soon). Did you get a chance to see my recent photos of the Sears (now Willis) Tower Ledge?
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
Seattle is our favourite American city. We have been there more than once, mainly for the cycling and as a place to fly into for road trips in the north-west, but we have never gone up the Space Needle or ridden the monorail. A trip up the space needle is on our list. Did you know that Sydney had a monorail for many years but tore it down about five years ago? I am pretty sure I still have an old multi-use ticket with rides still on it.
Rhonda Albom
It is a great city, but I think San Francisco will always top my list in the USA. I had no idea about the Sydney monorail. History is so interesting.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
And I’ve been there!
Wild to think it was the tallest building back then. Most western cities have skyscrapers taller than that now.
Great shots from the top, Rhonda.
Rhonda Albom
Finally, I have traveled to somewhere Alex has been. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
great views!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks.
Lexa Cain
What cool pieces of info! Especially the mph of rain and snow and the way it seems to snow upwards if you’re coming down. I’m not much for heights, but I loved the pics of the views, and I think eating in a revolving restaurant would be awesome! Thanks for the wonderful pics!
Rhonda Albom
I agree, sometimes it is the random facts that are the most interesting. If my goal wasn’t to avoid snowy winters, I think I would want to be there in a snow storm just to see the snow going up for the 41 second ride.
Barbara Radisavljevic
Although we lived in the Seattle area for four months in 1988, we never made it to the needle. Love that view of Mt Rainier. I miss seeing it every day.
Rhonda Albom
We are a bit like that. I don’t think we went up the Auckland Sky Tower for the first 5-6 years we were here. Now we are up whenever we get the chance.
Christen Tyre
These are so pretty! I am really hoping to see Seattle one day. It’s very high on my list!
Rhonda Albom
It’s a wonderful city. This is the first of a series of posts I am writing about our visit.
Hilary
Amazing views from the Tower – and interesting to read its history. I too love the photo of Mount Rainier … good memories for you – cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
It was even prettier live.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
Lovely photo collection! You got lucky and had a nice clear day to spot Mt. Rainier. We visited a few years ago and enjoyed it too. It helped to have nice weather. Glad to see the free photo souvenir is still around.
Rhonda Albom
I know, we did get a perfect day. And I was delighted to have the free photos.
Sarah E. Albom
Wow, the view is absolutely stunning!!
Rhonda Albom
Sorry that you were not there, you would have loved it.