2. HISTORY
The Space Needle was created from a simple sketch on a napkin in
1959 by the Seattle World’s Fair Commission chairman, Edward
“Eddie” Carlson. His design was inspired after he visited the Stuttgart
Tower in Germany.
The theme for the World’s Fair was Century 21 and Eddie wanted to
have a powerful “space-age” symbol to represent the fair’s theme.
The Space Needle is an internationally known structure and symbol
for the emerald city known as Seattle, WA.
The building of the Space Needle was the very first of it’s kind and
was the tallest building West of the Mississippi at that time. It was built
in record time of one year.
3. CONSTRUCTION
On April 17, 1961 construction began only one year before the
opening of the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, WA.
467 cement trucks were needed to pour the concrete foundation that
measures 30 feet deep and 120 feet wide. It was the largest
“continuous concrete pour” ever attempted in the West.
The Space Needle is attached by 72 bolts, each measuring 30 feet in
length.
The height of the Needle measures 605 feet and a revolving
restaurant called SkyCity was also built at the top of the Needle.
No lives were lost during the construction period.
4. FUN FACTS
“The Space Cage” was the original nickname for the Space Needle and the
restaurants nickname was “Eye of the Needle”.
Hoge Sullivan was the very first manager of the Space Needle and suffered from
acrophobia which is a fear of heights.
It is the #1 tourist attraction in the Northwest, with more than 1 million visitors a
year.
Elvis Presley, the entire Cheers cast including Kelsey Grammar, Demi Moore,
John Travolta, Vanna White are a few of the famous people who have visited the
Needle.
There were plans to build a stork’s nest at the top of the needle, but the plans
were cancelled once they learned that storks could not live in Seattle’s climate.
It would take about 1,320 Milky Way candy bars to reach the height of the Space
Needle which measures 605 feet.
5. OBSERVATION DECK
The observation deck gives visitors a chance to view the city of
Seattle in a whole new light.
With a 360 degree view you can see all the amazing wonders of
the Puget Sound.
There are complimentary Swarovski Telescopes to look through
on the deck that allow you to see the city sites up close and
personal.
You can also interact with the city by using SkyQ which uses
“cutting-edge technology” to teach visitors about Seattle and
some of the great people who contribute to the culture of
Seattle.
6. Restaurant
SkyCity is the revolving
restaurant that is located in the
saucer of the Space Needle.
Named the 2009 Restaurant of
the Year by the Washington Wine
Commission.
Enjoy 360 degrees of beautiful
views that the Puget Sound has to
offer. It makes a full revolution
every 58 minutes.
Don’t forget to make your
reservations!
