Last Updated on September 5, 2015
If you’re looking for great views of Seattle, look no further than the Smith Tower. It’s a stunning art deco style building with long history, brilliant views that are as good as or better than The Needle. The staff was very friendly and all are given a warm greeting upon arrival.
The triangular prism shaped quarters of the observation are unique and you will find a nice manually operated old-time copper and brass elevator car takes you to the 35th floor for stunning views. If you look straight out the elevator door you can watch as each floor of each story flies by.
The top of the tower felt almost deserted. There was plenty of room to walk around and take whatever photos you desired. The view was perfectly clear in all directions. The Smith Tower is in the heart of Seattle, and you can see all the historical buildings, the stadiums, shopping district, downtown and natural surroundings such as Mount Rainier, the Cascade Mountains, the Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound. The observation deck is completely bared in so you need not worry about safety.
The historical vibe of the “Chinese Room”, the top floor where the observation deck is, was also great and gave a sense of history. Engross yourself in the newspaper headlines of 1910 when Smith Tower was just an idea, or soak up the good luck of the room by taking a seat in the Wishing Chair. This room has an authentic ceiling that was shipped from China as a gift. Looking up at the carved wood and painted gold leaf ceiling will leave you with some wonder about the myth.
We enjoyed the Smith Tower as much, if not more, than the Space Needle.
Have you ever visited Smith Tower? Where is the best observation deck you have been to?