Looking north from the Smith Tower Observation Deck It helps you understand what a big deal this building was back in the day (even though it’s often overlooked now). Try not to miss the old newspaper clippings that show all the hype Smith Tower received in the early 1900s. The indoor viewing area means you can still enjoy the Smith Tower Observation Deck on a rainy day, and you can still have fun even if you’re scared of heights (like my poor mom who joined us on the adventure).
#Smith tower vs space needle windows#
With large windows surrounding the room, you can start to enjoy some of the spectacular views of Seattle. The Chinese Room is also where the Smith Tower Observation Deck fun really begins. There just might be something to the Wishing Chair after all. UPDATE: Tove and I did eventually get married a few years later. If they sit in the chair, legend says they’ll be married within a year (for some reason Tove really enjoyed the Wishing Chair…I’m not really sure why). According to the Smith Tower website, “The room’s name derives from the carved teak ceiling and Blackwood furniture that have adorned the room since its opening in 1914.” Among the items in the Chinese Room is the Wishing Chair, which is believed to be good luck for unmarried women. Legend has it, the Chinese Room was furnished by the last Empress of China as a gift to L.C. The elevator ride ends when you reach the 35th floor and step into the Chinese Room. The elevator operator (yes, there’s actually someone who takes you to the top) explained that much of the elevator was in its original form from 1914. The trip to the Smith Tower Observation Deck starts with a ride on an old-school, hand-operated elevator. The building was the largest in Seattle for nearly 50 years, when it was finally trumped by the Space Needle in 1964. When it was finished, Smith Tower was 42 stories, and it stood as the tallest building outside of New York City. Instead of 18 stories, Smith was convinced by his son to build something much taller. Smith to make way for a new 18-story building. That’s when it was demolished by New York tycoon L.C. I thought I was just going to Smith Tower for cool views of Seattle, but it was impossible to not get wrapped up in all the history: The plot of land was a drug store until 1911. Smith Tower in SeattleĪ trip to the Smith Tower Observation Deck (506 2nd Ave.) is truly an experience. But, that doesn’t mean the sights from the top are any less spectacular than they were in the past. Let’s just say the city has grown up a bit in the last 100 years.
The only thing that’s changed dramatically is the view from the Smith Tower Observation Deck. Built in 1914, much of the building still looks the same as it did a century ago. When you walk inside Smith Tower in Seattle, it’s like taking a step back in time.
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