How many people died building the Space Needle?
SEATTLE (AP) — A construction worker who fell about 50 feet from scaffolding on a building near the Space Needle has died. Seattle Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore says the man was taken to Harborview Medical Center although he was unconscious and had no pulse when medics reached him.
How many elevators are there in the Space Needle?
The Space Needle’s exterior elevators are different from nearly all elevators in the world. Unlike indoor elevators, ours draw in 100% fresh air from outside. Plus, it’s a short ride to the top (less than a minute!) and they are always operated by Team Members for a touchless experience.
How long did the Space Needle take to build?
The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World's Fair, and took only eight months to construct. An aerial photo of the Space Needle under construction in 1961. Seattle Municipal Archives/Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons
How many stairs does the Space Needle have?
There are 848 steps from the Needle’s basement to the observation deck. 74,000 bolts hold the tower together. The Space Needle’s centre of gravity is just 1.5m above the ground. The weight of the entire Space Needle structure is 3,700 tons.
How many floors is the Space Needle equivalent to?
6Space NeedleTop floor518 ft (158 m)Technical detailsFloor count6Lifts/elevators330 more rows
How high is Space Needle?
605 feet tallThe Space Needle stands at 605 feet tall. The Space Needle offers 360-degree views from its three main viewing areas – an indoor observation deck and open-air viewing area located at 520 feet, and an observation level featuring a revolving glass floor located 500 feet above ground.
Is the Space Needle the tallest thing in Seattle?
It is currently the 29th-tallest building in the United States, and the tallest building in the state of Washington. The 20 tallest buildings in Washington are all located in Seattle....Tallest completed buildings.NameSpace NeedleHeight ft (m)605 (184)Floors5UseObservationYear196248 more columns
Which is taller Eiffel Tower or Space Needle?
A: (1) Eiffel Tower, 1,063 feet; (2) Space Needle, 605 feet; (3) Washington Monument, 555 feet.
Does the Space Needle have stairs?
832 steps, 98 flights of stairs, 520 feet in the air. Are the stairs indoor or open-air? Open-air! There are two separate staircases spiraling upward, each with 360-degree views all the way to the top.
Why can't you talk on the Space Needle elevator?
And there's no talking in the elevator allowed, to minimize any particles spreading. The elevator operator has their own voice recorded to direct your view and remind you to stay quiet for the 41 -second ride.
Can you see Canada from the Space Needle?
On a clear day you can see Canada! - Review of Space Needle, Seattle, WA - Tripadvisor.
How often is the Space Needle struck by lightning?
Yes, lightning strikes twice (and sometimes more than two times). While it is rare, lightning actually can strike the same spot (or almost the same spot) multiple times during a storm. In February 2017, lighting struck the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington twice within one hour.
Why is it called Space Needle?
He doodled an idea of a dominant central structure for the fair on a napkin in a hotel café convinced that such a tower could make a permanent center-piece for the fair and an enduring symbol for Seattle. He called it a “Space Needle.”
Is Stratosphere bigger than Space Needle?
The Stratosphere tower is a whopping 1,149 feet tall. It's the tallest building in Las Vegas and 544 feet taller than the Space Needle in Seattle. The Stratosphere tower is actually the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States.
Is the Space Needle taller than the Empire State?
The Empire State Building is 1454 feet or 443 meters. The Empire State Building is more than twice as tall as the Seattle Space Needle.
Where is the tallest Space Needle?
Seattle, WashingtonList of tallest observation towers in the United StatesOrderNameLocation1Stratosphere TowerLas Vegas, Nevada2Tower of the AmericasSan Antonio, Texas3Gateway ArchSt. Louis, Missouri4Space NeedleSeattle, Washington6 more rows
Is the Space Needle taller than the CN Tower?
Not that they would ever call it that. At 1,815 feet the CN Tower is exactly three times taller than our our beloved landmark. It has two observation decks. The SkyPod, at 1,465 feet, is nearly a thousand feet higher than the Needle's viewing platform.
Whats at the top of the Space Needle?
The Loupe LoungeThe Loupe Lounge | Space Needle. Orbit a while on the world's first and only revolving glass floor for a cocktail experience like nothing else around. Perched 500 feet above the city with unmatched views, The Loupe Lounge serves up showstopping mixology paired with tastes of the Pacific Northwest.
How long does it take to go through the Space Needle?
2-3 hoursHow long should you spend at the Space Needle? We recommend at least spending 2-3 hours at the Space Needle. By the time you ride to the top and look at all three viewing areas, you could easily spend an hour or two.
What are 3 facts about the Space Needle?
Space Needle Facts Infographics.The Seattle Space Needle Is an Observation Tower. ... The Space Needle Is 605 ft High. ... The Space Needle Was Designed By John Graham. ... The Space Needle Was Named “The 400 Day Wonder” ... The Space Needle Is Built To Last. ... The Space Needle's Elevators Offer a Joy Ride.More items...•
How long did it take to build the Space Needle?
It took approximately 400 days to build the Space Needle. The Space Needle’s graceful, wasp-waisted tower shape was inspired by an abstract sculpture by artist Don Lemon titled, “the Feminine One.”. Approximately 1.3 million guests visit the Space Needle per year, and nearly 60 million visitors have visited the tower since it opened in 1962.
When was the Space Needle opened?
Space Needle Facts. The Space Needle officially opened to the public on April 21, 1962 for the Century 21 Exposition, a space age-themed world’s fair. Edward E. Carlson, the chief organizer of the World’s Fair, sketched the Space Needle’s original flying saucer concept on a napkin. The unique design quickly made the tower one ...
Who owns the space needle?
The Space Needle is privately owned by the Wright family and sits on a 120-foot by 120-foot private parcel of land on the Seattle Center campus. The Space Needle is the only private property on the Seattle Center’s 74-acre campus. The Space Needle stands at 605 feet tall.
What is the legacy of the Space Needle?
Legacy Lights. The Space Needle unveiled its Legacy Lights for the first time. The powerful beam of light is powered by lamps that total 85 million candela shinning upwards from the top of the tower to honor national holidays and special occasions.
How much did the Space Needle cost in 1962?
In comparison, the Space Needle was built in for about $4.5 million dollars in 1962.
What TV show ran a spoof news bulletin announcing that the Space Needle had fallen over?
One evening in 1989, the KING-TV Almost Live comedy show ran a spoof news bulletin announcing that the Space Needle had fallen over. The live broadcast included a mocked-up graphic of the tower in ruins on the ground.
What was the Space Race 2012?
Space Race. For the Space Needle’s 50th anniversary, it sponsored “Space Race 2012,” a contest that selected one lucky individual to win an actual flight into orbit. The contest was announced by Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo 11 astronaut who was the second man to walk the moon.
When was the Space Needle named a Seattle landmark?
On April 21, 1999 , the Space Needle’s 37th birthday, the City’s Landmarks Preservation Board named it an official City of Seattle Landmark. 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.
Who designed the wasp-waisted tower?
Graham’s team worked on sketches and ideas before a final design was reached just a year and a half before the World’s Fair. Architect Victor Steinbrueck came up with the wasp-waisted tower shape based on an abstract sculpture of a dancer called “The Feminine One.”.
Who took the picture of the space needle?
Photographer George Gulacsik took this image of balloons floating above the Space Needle, mid-construction, in July 1961, only a few months after workers began building the structure. Gulacsik’s images are now online through the Seattle Public Library. Edward E. Carlson, then-president of Western International Hotels, ...
Who created the needle?
Edward E. Carlson, then-president of Western International Hotels, sketched the original idea for the Needle’s design on a napkin in 1959. Inspired by a tower he saw in Stuttgart, Germany, Carlson envisioned a column base connected to a ballooning, circular top structure.
How tall was the needle at the World's Fair?
The Needle opened to the public at the World’s Fair, whose theme was “Century 21,” in Seattle in 1962. At 605 feet high, using 3,700 tons of steel, the building was not only distinctive against the skyline, but audible.
How long did it take for the Space Needle to pour concrete?
They began pouring concrete into the base on May 22, 1961, and continued for 12 hours in a mesmerizing process that captivated a crowd that gathered to watch. Onlookers watch concrete pour at Space Needle foundation, ca. May 22, 1961.
Who was the Santa Claus who climbed the Seattle Space Needle?
It’s unclear who exactly asked Robert Kessler to climb the Seattle Space Needle in a Santa Claus costume on Dec. 14, 1961. But we know what his goal was: to install a Christmas tree. The Associated Press snapped a picture of him, and it ran in newspapers across the country — a hopeful sign during the rapid-fire construction process ...
How long did it take to build the Seattle World's Fair?
Photo by by George Gulacsik, image courtesy of the Seattle Public Library. The building effort lasted 400 days, aiming to open for the Seattle World’s Fair. Construction workers from the Howard S. Wright Company and steelworkers from the Pacific Car and Foundry Company were paid about $4.00 a day for their work.
How tall is the Space Needle?
The Space Needle stands at an impressive height of 605 feet. More surprising is that the structure’s foundation stretches down 30 feet beneath the streets of Seattle. The needle itself is connected to the foundation with 72 30-foot-long bolts. This design places the tower’s center of gravity a mere five feet above ground.
What year did the Space Needle burn?
To help make the Space Needle’s public reveal all the more dazzling, a massive flame burned bright at the head of the tower throughout the run of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair.
What is the name of the instrument that was used to play the space needle?
Nicknamed Carillon Americana, the instrument was the largest of its kind until it was outdone by a 732-bell version at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
When was the space needle first cleaned?
The Space Needle’s first professional cleaning took place in May of 2008, under the supervision of Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG. The heavy-duty scrubbing required water pressure of 2900 pounds per square inch and a water temperature of 194 degrees Fahrenheit.
Who designed the Northgate Mall?
A decade before starting work on the Space Needle, John Graham oversaw the design and construction of an even more influential structure: Northgate Center, presently known as Northgate Mall.
Construction history
Construction of the tower began on August 9, 1966 and cost $5.2 million. The top house of the tower was constructed at ground level and hoisted to the top of the poured concrete shaft.
Tower restaurant
In 2004, Landry's Restaurants, Inc. won the bid for a 15-year lease to manage and operate the property for its owner, the City of San Antonio.
FM radio
Since 1970 the roof has hosted a 30-meter-tall (98 ft) tapered steel mast, used as support for three FM antennas; 101.9 KQXT (then known as KCOR-FM), 102.7 KJXK (then KTFM), and 104.5 KZEP (then KITE-FM).
Trivia
The fastest recorded time up the tower's 952 steps is 5 minutes 18 seconds on January 29, 1981.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tower of The Americas, San Antonio, Texas.
Overview
The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle, Washington, United States. Considered to be an icon of the city, it has been designated a Seattle landmark. Located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, it was built in the Seattle Center for the 1962 World's Fair, which drew over 2.3 million visitors.
The Space Needle was once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River, s…
Architecture
The architecture of the Space Needle is the result of a compromise between the designs of two people, Edward E. Carlson and John Graham, Jr. The two leading ideas for the World Fair involved businessman Edward E. Carlson's sketch (on a napkin) of a giant balloon tethered to the ground (the gently sloping base) and architect John Graham's concept of a flying saucer (the halo that houses the re…
History
Edward E. Carlson, chairman of the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle, had an idea for erecting a tower with a restaurant at the World's Fair. Carlson was president of a hotel company and was not recognized in art or design, but he was inspired by a recent visit to the Stuttgart Tower of Germany. Local architect John Graham soon became involved as a result of his success in designing Northgate Mall. Graha…
Jumping incidents
Six parachutists have leaped from the tower since its opening, in a sport known as BASE jumping. This activity is legal only with prior authorization. Four of them were part of an authorized promotion in 1996, and one of the jumpers got injured and broke a bone in her back while attempting the stunt. The other two jumped illegally and were arrested.
Paul D. Baker was the first person to jump from the Space Needle, committing suicide on March …
Appearances in TV and film
As a symbol of the Pacific Northwest, the Space Needle has made numerous appearances in films, TV shows, and other works of fiction. The Space Needle is often used in establishing shots as an economical means to tell the audience the setting is Seattle. Examples include the TV shows Frasier, Grey's Anatomy, Dark Angel, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and films It Happened at the World's Fair (1962) and The Parallax View (1974) where it was used as a filming location, and Slee…
See also
• Näsinneula, a similar-look tower in Tampere, Finland
• Sydney Tower, a similar-look tower in Sydney, Australia
• List of tallest buildings in Seattle
• List of towers
Further reading
• Lost and Found Films: Building the Space Needle, 1961
• Knute Berger (2012). Space Needle: The Spirit of Seattle. Documentary Media. ISBN 978-1933245263.
External links
• Official website
• Century 21 Exposition design plans for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair – Architecture of the Pacific Northwest Database from the University of Washington
• Entry at site of Howard S. Wright Construction Co.
1961
December 1961
- Let’s get ‘Spacey’ The basic Space Needle tower was completed in December 1961, eight months after it began. In keeping with the 21st Century theme of the World’s Fair, the final coats of paint were dubbed ‘Astronaut White’ for the legs, ‘Orbital Olive’ for the core of the structure, ‘Re-entry Red’ for the Halo and ‘Galaxy Gold’ for the sunburst an...
April 21, 1962
- Opening day. Hooray! The Space Needle officially opened the first day of the World’s Fair. During the expo the tower hosted an estimated 2.65 million visitors. They included world celebrities including Elvis Presley, the Shah and Empress of Iran, Prince Philip of Great Britain, Bobby Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, John Wayne, Bob Hope, Chubby Checker, Billy Graham, John Glenn, Jo…
1974
- The Wheedle Local Seattle author Stephen Cosgrove introduced the beloved character, the Wheedle. The infamously shy, orange character resembled Bigfoot with a bright red nose and lived atop the tower. He was featured in a popular children’s story and later became the mascot for Seattle’s NBA basketball team, the SuperSonics.
1982
- SkyLine The 100’ SkyLine level was added as a special event space, hosting view-spectacular weddings, receptions, and business meetings.
1989
- The Space Needle falls…April Fools! One evening in 1989, the KING-TV Almost Live comedy show ran a spoof news bulletin announcing that the Space Needle had fallen over. The live broadcast included a mocked-up graphic of the tower in ruins on the ground. The April Fools prank received international attention and overwhelmed Seattle’s 9-1-1 emergency system with people who beli…
1999
- Legacy Lights The Space Needle unveiled its Legacy Lights for the first time. The powerful beam of light is powered by lamps that total 85 million candela shinning upwards from the top of the tower to honor national holidays and special occasions. The Legacy Lights remained lit for eleven days straight in response to the September 11th attacks in 2001.
April 21, 1999
- 37 Looks Good on you. Happy Birthday! On April 21, 1999, the Space Needle’s 37th birthday, the City’s Landmarks Preservation Board named it an official City of Seattle Landmark. 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 prowes…
2000
- The tower completed a $20 million revitalization in 2000. The project included construction of the Pavilion Level, SpaceBase retail store, SkyCity restaurant, Observation Deck improvements, exterior lighting additions, exterior painting and more. In comparison, the Space Needle was built in for about $4.5 million dollars in 1962.
2012
- Space Race For the Space Needle’s 50th anniversary, it sponsored “Space Race 2012,” a contest that selected one lucky individual to win an actual flight into orbit. The contest was announced by Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo 11 astronaut who was the second man to walk the moon.