Space Needle

SEATTLE, UNITED STATES · 1962

Space Needle

An observation tower built for the 1962 World’s Fair, reaching 605 feet above Seattle Center.

At a glance

The Space Needle is an observation tower at 400 Broad Street in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It was built in the Seattle Center for the 1962 World’s Fair, which drew more than 2.3 million visitors. The city has designated it a Seattle landmark.

History

The tower opened with the 1962 World’s Fair. It served as the fair’s centerpiece and gave visitors a view over the city and its surroundings. On April 19, 1999, Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board designated the Space Needle a historic landmark.

What you see

The tower stands 605 feet (184 m) high and is 138 feet (42 m) wide. It weighs 9,550 short tons (8,660 metric tons). The structure was built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) and earthquakes of up to 9.0 magnitude, as strong as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake.

At the time of its completion, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Elevators take visitors to an observation deck 520 feet (160 m) above ground in 41 seconds. From there, the view includes the downtown Seattle skyline, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay, and islands in Puget Sound.

Cultural significance

The Space Needle is considered an icon of the city. Its landmark status recognizes its role in Seattle’s identity since the 1962 World’s Fair.

Key facts

Country: United States
City: Seattle
Coordinates: 47.6204, -122.3491
Height: 605 ft (184 m)
Observation deck: 520 ft (160 m)
Elevator ride: 41 seconds

Practical information & getting there

The Space Needle is at 400 Broad Street in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, within the Seattle Center.

Sources & resources

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Travel tips from CHO

The Smithsonian never charges

Every Smithsonian museum is free to enter, all year, with no ticket to buy. A few of the busiest in Washington ask you to reserve a free timed pass in advance, which is worth doing the week before rather than the morning of.

The Smithsonian museums →

Pick a fee-free day in the parks

Most National Park Service sites are free to visit at any time; the ones that do charge an entrance fee drop it on a handful of days each year, usually around the national holidays. The dates are set annually, so look them up before fixing your week.

This year’s fee-free days →

Arrive already connected

Maps, opening hours and tickets all need data, and roaming outside your own network still costs more than the ticket. A travel eSIM for the United States installs on your phone before you leave home and works the moment you land — no queue at the airport, no physical card to swap.

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