37 Stunning Facts About Space Needle: The Seattle Observation Tower
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Have you ever visited the Space Needle?
In the Seattle landscape, this architectural marvel is easily recognizable. It looks like a needle is holding a flying saucer.
It all started through a doodle! Someone thought the Seattle skyline could benefit from a tower with an observation deck. Edward E. Carlson envisaged it as a giant balloon connected to the ground, while the lead architect, John Graham, wanted a flying saucer. Eventually, a compromise between the two led to the creation of this historic landmark.
In 1962, the Space Needle was officially opened to the public at the World Fair. It was a success. Around three million visitors attended its opening, of which there were many celebrities. Once the visitors take the elevator to the 360-degree observation deck, they have an excellent view of Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier.
Apart from checking out the view, you can dine at the restaurant or shop for souvenirs at the gift shop. During New Year's Eve and other national holidays, the Space Needle's Skybeam is lit up.
Continue reading for more Space Needle facts here at Kidadl!
History Of The Space Needle
An American landmark, the Space Needle, is a 605 ft (184 m) constructed in 1962. Here are some historical Space Needle facts to better understand this iconic observation tower in Seattle.
Edward E. Carlson was a Seattle hotel executive who doodled the idea for the Seattle Needle on a napkin in 1959. However, the construction did not automatically begin, and the design underwent many changes.
Howard S. Wright Construction Company took care of the construction of the Space Needle. John Graham was the architect of the project.
In April 1962, the Space Needle was inaugurated and opened on the World's Fair's first day. In fact, the colors on the Space Needle were named after the theme of the World's Fair.
On the first day, 2.65 million visitors visited Space Needle. The World Fair was attended by famous celebrities like Elvis Presley, Prince Philip of Great Britain, John Wayne, Neil Armstrong, and so on.
In 1982, the 100' SkyLine level was added to allow people to celebrate special occasions in the tower.
In 1999, the Space Needle was declared an official landmark in Seattle city. The powerful beam of the Legacy Lights was introduced for the first time.
In 2000, renovation started to revamp and add new sections in the Space Needle, such as the addition of the Pavilion Level, SkyCity revolving restaurant, and improvements in the Observation Deck improvements.
Architecture
When Edward E. Carlson envisaged the Space Needle, he imagined it to be a tower with a Space Age feel to light up the Seattle skyline.
John Graham wanted the Space Needle to resemble a flying saucer or UFO. Based on his previous revolving bar design, he used the same technology to create a free-standing revolving restaurant, the first of its kind. The restaurant was named the Emerald Suite.
The original construction has an underground foundation of 30 ft (9.14 m) deep and 120 ft (37 m). The foundation of the Space Needle weighs 5,850 tons, and 72 bolts were used to fix the needle structure.
The Space Needle has been built to withstand a wind speed of 200 mph (322 kph). This was a remarkable feat during the period the tower was constructed. This was also more than the building code of that time. The Space Needle sways 1 in (3 cm) for every 10 mph (16.09 kph) wind.
The flying saucer observation deck has five levels, and it was balanced to enable the restaurant to revolve with a track-and-wheel system.
In 2000, the Space Needle was renovated, and it involved a complete upgrade of the interior and exterior. A spiral staircase that was part of the original World's Fair design was added to the tower.
The hourglass profile of the Space Needle was contributed by Victor Steinbrueck.
The old elevator car was replaced by modern versions in 1993. These computerized elevators descend at 10 mph (16 kph).
There are 848 steps in the main stairwell that start from the basement and end at the observation deck.
Appearance In TV & Films
The Space Needle has also been featured repeatedly in popular media. Apart from appearing in films and dramas, the Space Needle also inspired the futuristic home of 'The Jetsons.'
In 1974, Stephen Cosgrove wrote a children's book 'Wheedle On The Needle.' The main creature, Wheedle, was portrayed to be living on top of the Space Needle.
Space Needle has been featured in many popular films such as 'Sleepless In Seattle' and 'It Happened At The World's Fair.' The shooting of 'The Parallax View' took place in the inside and outside sections of the observation deck.
Doctor Villian, the villain in 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' used the Space Needle as their operational base.
In the 2012 movie 'Chronicle,' the Space Needle was featured during the film's climax.
Not just in films, the Space Needle has been repeatedly featured in prominent TV shows. For example, in the opening credits of 'Frasier,' you will be able to spot the outline of the tower.
It appeared in almost all episodes of the popular medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy.'
In 'iCarly,' a show on Nickelodeon TV, the Space Needle appears with almost all other buildings present in Seattle.
The Space Needle has not only been shown standing but visualized as collapsed or destroyed in TV shows. In 'Life After People' from the History Channel, the Space Needle is shown as collapsed after 200 years due to corrosion.
In the '10.5' miniseries, a powerful earthquake hits Seattle, and the Needle is shown crumbling down. However, this is a myth because the design of the Space Needle ensures that it can withstand an earthquake up to a 9.0 Richter scale.
In 'Bill Nye The Science Guy,' the Space Needle is featured in the Storms episode. It was used to showcase how lightning strikes were conducted.
Other Miscellaneous Facts
It is time now to check out these miscellaneous facts about the Space Needle.
It took the construction workers 400 days to complete the original design and be ready for opening at the World's Fair.
Even though funding and design were finalized for the Space Needle, the construction team had an issue procuring land. No suitable land lot was available, and finally, a 120 by 120 ft (36.57 by 36.57 mt) plot was identified for the build.
The Space Needle has an imitation Carillion made of 538 bells. This is also known as Carillon Americana. The music created by the Carillion was also put in an album, 'Bells On High-Fi.'
A tall building is an opportunity for thrill-seekers, especially parachute jumpers. Six people have jumped from the Space Needle. Two of the six jumped illegally. One legal jumper fractured their vertebra.
Even the Space Needle gets a bath. However, for 46 years, it went without one. The first cleaning was done in 2008 under the supervision of Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG.
Space Needle could have been bought by another city in the United States. Fife is a few miles from Seattle, and its business people tried to win a bid to own the Space Needle. A million dollars was offered by the Fife team to procure the landmark; however, they were declined.
The principal architect, John Graham, was inspired by his Space Needle design to create another building, Northgate Mall.
In April 1989, an April Fool Day prank convinced the city that the Space Needle had fallen. This announcement was done on a local broadcast show, Almost Live! To make it more convincing, the broadcaster also posted pictures. Even though it was declared a hoax, many concerned citizens made distressed calls.
To improve the experience of the visitors, floor-to-ceiling glass was added to the deck. This allowed for an unhindered 360-degree view of Seattle.
The Loupe is a one-of-a-kind rotating glass floor to allow visitors to see the structure from top to bottom.
The 2018 renovation of the Space Needle was done as part of the Century Project. This was a privately funded renovation project that was overseen by Olson Kundig Architects.
The Space Needle is a prominent landmark dotting Seattle's skyline. Taking the super-fast elevator to reach the deck is a must-have experience. Introduced in the 1962 World's Fair, even today, locals and tourists take time out to experience this tall architectural marvel.
FAQs
How old is the Space Needle?
The Space Needle is 60 years old.
Who created the Space Needle?
Edward E. Carlson came up with the idea of the Space Needle in 1959.
How long does Space Needle take?
It takes 43 seconds to travel in a Space Needle elevator from the ground to the tower's top level, 520 ft (158 m) above Seattle.
Is the Space Needle taller than the CN Tower?
No, the CN Tower is three times taller than the Space Needle.
Does the Space Needle rotate?
Yes, the Space Needle does rotate.
How deep is the Space Needle?
The Space Needle is 30 ft (9.14 m) deep.
Why do they call it the Space Needle?
The Space Needle was named by the original person who doodled the design of this historic landmark.
How many stories is Space Needle?
The Space Needle does not have any floors or stories.
What color was the Space Needle originally?
The original colors of the various parts of the Space Needle are Astronaut White (tower), Orbital Olive (core), Re-entry Red (halo), and Galaxy Gold or Tangerine (top).
What materials was the Space Needle made of?
The Space Needle is made up of glass, steel, rebar, and concrete.
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Sources
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/66548/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-space-needle#:~:text=3.beneath the streets of Seattle.
https://citybop.com/seattle/space-needle
https://info.cecr.in/the-space-needle/
https://www.spaceneedle.com/history
https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/1057/time-needed-to-visit-the-seattle-space-needle
https://www.familytravelmagazine.com/seattle-space-needle/#:~:text=We spent about 45 minutestime for the VR experience.
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Space_Needle#Construction
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