The Space Needle Observation Tower is open at the Seattle Center Exhibition Complex. It is considered one of the key attractions of Washington. This place offers scenic views of the city and the surrounding area, and you can take a keepsake photo on top of the building. The Pacific Rim symbol is sometimes used for filming films.
History of creation
The facility began to be built as part of the World's Fair in the early 1960s. The event was held under the slogan "The Age of Space" in Seattle. Entrepreneur Edward Carlson was inspired by the Stuttgart TV Tower and suggested opening an observation tower. Initially, it was assumed that the structure would be made in the form of a giant balloon tied to the ground.
The plans changed after architect John Graham came up with the idea to present the concept of a flying saucer to the world in a more futuristic style. The appearance of the landmark became a reflection of the compromise of 2 ideas. The construction work took 400 days, and the opening ceremony was held in the spring of 1962, just in time for the start of the exhibition. During the event, more than 2 million people visited the new tower.
Short description
Translated from English, the name means "space needle". Its height reaches 184 meters, the width at the largest point is 42 meters. The weight of the structure is estimated at more than 9,000 tons. The space Needle was installed at a level of 160 meters, it can be reached by a long staircase or an elevator. From the top, the city center is visible, offering a view of the volcano, mountains, bay and neighboring islands. The films """"""""""Sleepless in Seattle," ""Parallax View," "Chronicle," "The Last of Us," ""10.5 Points," and the cartoon "The Scooby-Doo Show" were shot against the backdrop of the landmark.
The space Needle is weather-resistant and can handle wind gusts up to 320 km/h and an earthquake of just over 9 points. There are 25 lightning rods installed on the territory of the Space Needle. It is often windy here, so it is recommended to come here in warm clothes. When there is a strong wind outside, the top of the tower may tilt slightly, but this does not affect safety in any way.
Architecture features
The Space Needle Tower is presented in the form of a tripod structure with beams and steel pipes that support the observation deck. The object itself is visible from afar, and it looks like a flying saucer. The design resembles a simple geometric shape with a minimum of decorations, embodying a vision of the future associated with innovation and the space race. The base is made of a concrete platform with a depth of 9 meters and a width of 37 meters.
The details of the Space Needle are thought out for the smallest detail: this shape reduces the total mass, which helps reduce the impact of seismic activity. This was tested in practice when a 6.8 MW earthquake struck Seattle in 2001, and the "space needle" withstood it and continued to operate.
Previously, the SkyCity restaurant operated at an altitude of 150 meters, rotating every 47 minutes using a bearing system. This made it possible to demonstrate panoramic views. The establishment was closed in 2017, and the Loupe Lounge cocktail bar with a glass floor has been operating in this room since 2021, which also serves as a rotating observation deck that attracts the attention of visitors.
How to get
To get to the famous Space Needle observation deck, you need to take one of the buses: D, 1, 2, 8, 13, 32 and RapidRide. There is a monorail from the city center to the Seattle Center. If you take the subway, you need to get off at Westlake Station, which is located 1.6 kilometers from your destination, and use the monorail to order a taxi. People also come here in rented cars, and vehicles can be parked in parking garages near the landmark.
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