On april 21, 1999, the space needle s 37th birthday, the citys landmarks preservation board named it an official city of seattle landmark. At 475 feet tall, the book tower would lay claim to the title of tallest building in. The space needle is a tower in seattle, washington. Needle is the number one tourist attraction in the pacific northwest. We recommend booking space needle tours ahead of time to secure your spot. It was a nice and not too dense history of the space needle.
A view a detailed profile of the structure 119476 including further data and descriptions in the emporis database. Having already been to the top of the cn tower in toronto, canada, and seeing how much smaller the seattle space needle was in. The people, politics, public debate, financing, backroom dealsall diligently researched and presented, in lively, insightful and informative fashion by the regions. The space needle is an observation tower located in seattle, washington, built for the 1962 worlds fair. Located in seattle center, it was built for the 1962 worlds fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators 2. The space needle at fifty historian and writer knute. Ah, the space needle a study in how quickly impressively tall structures can be dwarfed.
During the fair, the towers base housed an exhibit devoted to dentistry through the ages of man, and the top house peak blazed at night with a giant natural gas torch. Im a sucker for seattle history, so this fit right in. Space needle seattle 2020 all you need to know before. The hardcover of the the seattle space needle by craig a. Explore books, websites and other resources related to the history of the. A futuristic addition to the skyline of the emerald city, the space needle is one of the biggest landmarks of the city. The history of the tower of the americas in 1 minute. In the early 1960s, edward carlson was a seattle businessman, and chairman of the world fair, while john graham was an architect. With over 210 images, both historical and contemporary, this 184pp coffee table book features the best of the classic images of the needle, as well newly. Dedicated to all the children and notso children that live and play in the shadow of the space needle that stands in the heart of seattle, washington. This very tall abstract sculpture is a tapering tower made of aluminum and stainless steel. It was built in the seattle center for the 1962 worlds fair, which drew over 2. Space needle designing buildings wiki share your construction industry knowledge. In the 1960s, when artist kenneth snelson mingled architectural innovation.
Needle is a 1950 science fiction novel by american writer hal clement, originally published the previous year in astounding science fiction magazine. The space needle has a storied history as a worlds fair icon. Great history on the building itself and the views are great. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. The seattle space needle building america doherty, craig a. The book was notable in that it broke new ground in the science fiction field by postulating an alien lifeform, not hostile, which could live within the human body.
The space needle is an observation tower in seattle, washington, a landmark of the pacific northwest, and a symbol of seattle. Sets of three alternate with left and right helical modules, adding up to six when viewed upwards from the base of the tower. From an allglass floor below to an openair deck above. Eiffel tower, washington monument and the space needle. The aluminum tubes act in compression, held in tension by the stainless. The book tower is a 475foot tall, thirtyeight story skyscraper located on washington boulevard in downtown detroit. Space needle seattle tourist attraction best views in. Constructed for the 1962 worlds fair, the space needle was meant to be both an iconic landmark and a vision of the future. A taller book tower of 81 stories was to be built at the opposite end of the book building, but the great depression cancelled those plans. Over the centuries it developed from a simple craft item to the precision tool for modern sewing machines, constantly adapted for new industrial applications and requirements. Needle tower is a public artwork by american sculptor kenneth snelson located outside of the hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden in washington, d.
We wanted to go to the top of the space needle, however, the lineups were way too long and the price was a little high. History in the eye of a needle at an embroidery show the. The 6 best views of the seattle space needle for seriously. The space needles scale and novel shape were originally accented with a garish paint scheme, including orbital olive, reentry red, and galaxy gold. The space needle at christmas the space needle is a tower in seattle, washington. I learned some things about it that id never known, and got an inside look into seattles most famous building. The space needle opened on april 21, 1962, the first day of the fair. Once the tallest structure west of the mississippi river, it is 605 ft high, 8 ft wide, and weighs 9,550 short tons. Discusses the history of the structure built for the 1962 seattle worlds fair, describing the engineering processes involved. The spirit of seattle is much more than a handsome or diverting book.
Inspired by a tower he saw in stuttgart, germany, carlson envisioned a column base connected to a ballooning, circular top structure. There the highrise downtown cityscape gives way to the pleasant. In 1959, an unlikely artist inspired by the stuttgart tower in germany was sketching his vision of a dominant central structure. Fays husband, reid blackburn was a gifted photographer and a wellloved photographer for the columbian who passed away during the mount st.
Space needle is a 6story observation tower in seattle, washington, u. You can see this building from almost anywhere in the city. While things havent quite developed the way the designers envisioned, the 605foot tower remains an iconic and futuristic feature of the city. Once the tallest structure west of the mississippi, seattles space needle the iconic 605foottall observation tower was built in december of 1961 at the seattle center, a park, arts, and entertainment center. Built in record time, the space needle went from being a doodle of an idea, on a. Interesting facts about space needle fun facts about. Seattle, washington space needle construction timeline.
Once the tallest structure west of the mississippi river, it is 605 ft 184 m high, 8 ft. The space needle was built for the 1962 worlds fair. It is a major landmark of the pacific northwest region of the united states and the symbol of seattle. In its report on designation, the landmarks preservation board wrote, the space needle marks a point in history of the city of seattle and represents american aspirations towards technological prowess. In needle tower the six pointedness comes from the natural geometry of the three compression struts that make up each layer. It is a little known fact that the needle was one of humankinds first tools. Internationally, the space needle is a more recognizable symbol of seattle, than the citys actual name or any other single reference.
Prior to the space needle, the smith tower, which stands in the pioneer square neighborhood, donned that title. The space needle, by the numbers national trust for. The inspiration for the space tower as it was initially called, came from a napkin sketch by c21 chairman, eddie carlson of a 400 tv tower with a. It is an indispensable history of the darling of seattles skyline. The space needle is said to be inspired by the stuttgart tv tower in germany. Arguably the most famous observation tower erected for a 20th century worlds fair see also. The space needles foundation weighs as much as the tower, placing the center of gravity right at ground level. Detroits architectural history, added of the book tower.
How does the hirshhorns 60foot needle tower stay upright in a stiff wind. And if for no other reason, go get the book and look at the historical photographs. From the top of the needle, one can see the downtown seattle skyline, the olympic and cascade mountains, mount rainier, mount baker, elliott bay and surrounding islands. The exhibition of embroidery at the bard graduate center is both a revelation and great fun.
Seattles space needle turns 50 originally built as a tourist attraction for the 1962 worlds fair, the needles design was inspired by an abstract sculpture of a dancer. At 605 feet high, using 3,700 tons of steel, the building was not only distinctive. If you are in seattle you must visit the space needle. Introducing space needle one of seattle biggest tower. The abraham lincoln book tower stands 34 feet tall and 8 feet around in the. The needle opened to the public at the worlds fair, whose theme was century 21, in seattle in 1962. Carlsons drawing of a giant tethered balloon and graham jr. It is a city landmark and is considered an icon of seattle. Space needle simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Thank you, fay, for being a part of our space needle history. Opening on the first day of the worlds fair on april 21, 1962, the new futuristic tower drew in over 2. The structure was built in 1968, and has been on continuous display. The secret history of the space needle in 2,400 photos. Know the monument a little better by exploring some interesting and fun facts about the seattle space needle.
The tower of the americas in san antonio is a 750foot 230metres observation tower located at hemisfair park. Built for the 1962 worlds fair, seattles space needle was meant to represent what the space age would look like in the 21 st century. The seattle center is a campus around the needle with museums, food courts, galleries, shops, fountains, and amusement rides. The space needle at christmas the space needle is a. Stunning photos capture workers who built space needle.
Even today views are unimpeded by tall office buildings, since the seattle center, where the space needle resides, is a mile from downtown. Set in the seattle center, which has a number of other attractions, this is a prime spot for tourist sightseeing. The space needle is an observation tower in seattle, washington, united states. How does the hirshhorns 60foot needle tower stay upright in a. Heres a quick runthrough of the most identifiable building of the citys skyline. Neeedle people the idea for needle was first doodled on a napkin or placemat by seattle hotel executive edward eddie arlson during a visit to s tuttgart, germany in 1959. This famous tower came about as a compromise between several different design ideas, and there are many intriguing space needle facts about how the current design was conceived. It is built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph and earthquakes of up to 9. Here are 15 other towers around the world of varying heights that at least slightly resemble the space needle. The space needle was central, and i realized that outside seattle.
Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and. During this time, almost 20,000 people used the elevators every day. The space needle at fifty historian and writer knute berger on his history of the seattle landmark. Nearly 20,000 people a day used its elevators during the event. Wikipedia is the nonfiction writers best friend books. Its subject is one of the most beloved, ancient and widely pursued art formscraftshobbies on earth. He saw the potential of a space age tower as a symbol for the 1962 fair and the seattle skyline. Art is too often an object that the viewer stands apart from and looks at.
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