As Seen From the Smith Tower

Seattle's Smith Tower's Observation Deck and Chinese Room have not been open to the public since  December 4, 2014 according to their calendar here. They are presently closed for renovation. There is no date posted for when they expect to reopen. If you have any "intell" when that will happen,  please comment!
From Wikipedia:

Completed in 1914, the 38-story, 484 ft (148 m) tower is the oldest skyscraper in the city and was the tallest office building west of the Mississippi River until the Kansas City Power & Light Building was built in 1931. It remained the tallest building on the West Coast until the Space Needle overtook it in 1962.

For decades, the Smith Tower's observation deck was a favorite vantage point. Check out these old post cards.


"Second Avenue in the business District, as seen from the top of the 42 Story L. C. Smith Building, Seattle, U. S. A." 
#3,000 Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, U. S. A. Copyrighted 1913 by Frank H. Nowell. R-40703 C. T. American Art


"Looking up Second Ave. from Smith Tower, Seattle." 
16126 Pub. by The Puget Sound News Co., Seattle, Wash


"Harbor and Second Ave. from Smith Building, Seattle, Washington" 
#1756 Edward H. Mitchell, Publisher San Francisco


"Portion of Seattle and Elliott Bay. Queen Anne Hill and Olympic Mountains in Distance." 
107872 C. T. American Art Colored. 3014 Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, U. S. A. mailed 1927


2070:-"A Partial View of Seattle, Wash" 
Photo by Asahel Curtis 1930s?



"Seattle Skyline. Viewed from the 42 story Smith Tower. Seattle's Financial district forms the foreground with the waterfront and uptown districts forming a background" 
C-59 Ektachrome by Larrie Seifert. General Natural Color. Made by Dexter Press, Inc., West Nyack. N. Y. Pub. By J. Boyd Ellis, Arlington, Wash." It appears the Alaskan Way viaduct is under construction so I'd date this about 1953.


"Seattle, Washington. From Smith Tower's observation platform 35 stories high, is seen this view of busy Seattle, Washington's major city. On the left is a portion of Puget Sound and waterfront." Natural Color from Kodachrome. Mike Roberts Color Production Berkeley 2, California. Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle C971. Postcard mailed June 1954


"Seattle, Washington. Looking North from Smith Observation Tower." 
P3789. Plastichrome by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc., Boston 15, Mass., USA, Color by Roger Dudley. Pub. by Smith's Scenic Views, Tacoma, Washington


"HARBOR FREEWAY, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON" 
NEW PROCESS COLORCARD  - SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. NATURAL COLOR REPRODUCTION - CURTEICHCOLOR ART-CREATION REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. 7C-K306 (I'd love to find a better photo of that Rainier Beer billboard in the foreground!)


"Seattle, Washington - From Smith Tower's observation platform, 35 stories high, is seen this view of busy Seattle, Washington's major city. On the left is a portion of Puget Sound and waterfront. In center is new Norton Bldg."
Color photo by Max R. Jensen


"Seattle Skyline as viewed from atop the 42 story Smith Tower. The financial district is in the foreground while on the left may be seen the Alaskan Way viaduct which carries through traffic along the waterfront. Lake Union is on the far right."
Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis. Published by Ellis Post Card Co., Arlington, Washington 33275-B. C-59 Made by Dexter West Nyack, NY.  I believe that black building that appears in this view is the Norton Building which was completed 1959 so I believe this postcard is between 1959-1962

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop

Joseph E. Standley established Ye Olde Curiosity shop in Seattle in 1899.  What began as a hobby as a child turned into a business that has lasted well over 100 years.  The Shop has moved several times but has always been on the central waterfront.  It is still run by J. E. Standley's family. And while I would highly recommend visiting the actual store to appreciate the experience, you can also make on-line purchases. See more about their history on the Shop's website.

I have a few postcards (of course!) and hope to continue to grow my collection.

"Interior of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Seattle, U. S. A. Located in the Colman dock. Most Unique Shop in the World. J. E. Standly, PROP'R. Established 1899"


"VISIT YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP EST'D 1899. 1-Whale Jaw Bones 1 ton each, 21 1/2 feet, largest in U. S. 2-Skull of Alaska Buffalo, largest in the world. 3-Giant Clam Shell. weighs 161 pounds. From Equator. 4-Ivory Tusk of Alaska Elephant (mammoth). 5-Head of Arctic Walrus with ivory tusks 6-Shell, 855 pounds, fired from U. S. Fort Worden. 7-Navajo Rugs, from Navajo Indians. 8-Indian Totem Poles. 9-Saw of Saw Fish. 10-Indian Cooking Basket. 11-Old Ship Lanterns, brass. 12-Hat worn by Chief Seattle. 13 - Alaska Snail, petrified, 67 pounds. 14-Chilcat Blanket from Alaska. GROUND FLOOR AT COLMAN DOCK ENTRANCE, SEATTLE"

I posted this one on the Facebook pages of Vintage King County and  Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.  The Shop posted this about the items on this 1920s postcard:

This picture is likely from the 1920's. Yes, we do still have most of the things shown in the photograph. I will list them in order. We have about 3/4 of one of the whale jaw bones. One was lost from being out in the weather too long and about a fourth of the other was cut off by someone in the middle of the night (!) when it was chained to the outside of the building that housed the shop when we were on pier 51. The ivory tusk of an Alaskan elephant (mastodon) is on display near the front of the shop (inside). We actually have two. We have several giant clam shells on display. There are many Native American totem poles in our collection (some older and some newer) and we have many for sale also. We have always bought directly from the local artists and some from Alaska and British Columbia as well. We have more than one saw fish saws. We have many Native American baskets in our collection but not sure if this exact one is on display. We purchased many weavings from Chief Sealth's daughter, Princess Angeline, which were for sale at the time and we have kept some examples. We do have a hat that Chief Sealth (Seattle) wore. In case you didn't know Seattle was named after Chief Sealth. The Alaska 67 pound fossil snail is on display in the outside window on the north side of the shop along with many other things from our museum collection. Lastly we do still have a Chilkat blanket on display.

The back of this postcard did not have space for writing, just space for an address and a stamp on the right, on the left side reads:
"VISITORS IN SEATTLE SHOULD SEE: The Pike Place Market; Zoological Gardens; The Smith Tower, 42 stories, Day and Night View; Anderson's Bout Tour of Harbor through U. S. Ship Canal to Lake Union into Lake Washington; Mt. Rainier; Snoqualmie Falls, 100 feet higher than Niagara; Big Trees in Schmitz Park; Sea Bathing at Alki Beach; View of Harbor from Colman Dock Rotunds; Battleships and great docks; U. S. Navy Yard at Bremerton, 1 hour boat ride; Municipal Frozen Fish Aquarium in Spokane St. Wharf; Tropical Conservatories and Art Museum in Volunteer Park; State Museum and Art Gallery on University Campus. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Alaska Bureau will give you free literature, maps and information about sight seeing.
VISIT THE WORLD FAMOUS YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP and see the Russia Brass Ikons, Samovars; Carvings on 4 grains of rice; Shrunken Human Head size of a lemon from Ecuador; the Lord's Prayer on a pin head; Fleas in dresses; a duckbill Plattypus; a devil fish, wolf fish, musk ox skull, camel bells, old ship lanterns; Narwhal tusk, Aztec pottery; ships in bottles, old guns; India mask and real hand-carved Indian Totem Poles, one to forty feet tall. Big variety of antique brass and bronze, Fossil Ivory jewelry from Alaska Eskimos. Odd rings and beads; rare novelties, Indian Baskets, Bracelets and rings, daggers and thousands of other curiosities from every land and see.
Everybody welcome to Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
Est'd 1899 by J. E. Standley
BEATS THE DICKENS
At Foot of Marion Stret
The Ground Floor Entrance to Colman Dock
Look for the Whale Jaw Bones 21 1/2 Ft. Tall"


"Interior of the world famous Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Ferry Dock Pier 52, Seattle 4, Washington U. S. A., on Seattle's historic Waterfront. In the foreground is 'Sylvester' the mummy and Cigar Store Indian. Most unique shop in the world, 'Beats the Dickens'. Established 1899" Ektachrome by J. Boyd Ellis. 
According to HistoryLink essay about Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Sylvester was acquired in 1955 - I think this postcard photo might have been taken about this time


"World Famous Ye Olde Curiosity Shop - 601 Alaskan Way - Pier 51, Seattle 4, Washington (Established 1899 on the waterfront.) Interior view showing Thunderbird House Front, Easter Island Carving, Korean Grave Figure, Cobalt Blue Foo Dog, Sylvester the Mummy (background), and Cigar Store Indian foreground."
This store is on Pier 51 (the above was on Pier 52) and I don't know which location was earlier but since Sylvester is further back in the store, I'm supposing it's a little later.  The Zone number between the City and State indicates it pre-dates the zip code which came in to effect in 1963.

"Seattle Ferry Terminal and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on the Seattle Waterfront" "Seattle Waterfront, Seattle, Washington, U. S. A. Modern touch to colorful Seattle waterfront is provided by the new $3,000,000 SEATTLE FERRY TERMINAL. The world-famous YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP is at left. Waterfront visitors are afforded unlimited sightseeing opportunities from piers which extend far out into Elliot Bay. Fireboats and ferries provide interesting maritime activity in Seattle harbor."

Guessing the date mid to late 1960s (it's after the Seattle World's Fair ended - the barrel poles in front were originally at the Ford Pavilion at the Fair).

Fun place to see; fun place to shop!

The Kingdome

The King County Domed Stadium was opened March 27, 1976 and called The Kingdome.

I went to the Billy Graham Crusade in the brand new Kingdome May 1976 with a friend from school. At 14 years-old, I was active at my home church but when they said we could go to the floor of the Kingdome for an altar call I decided I wanted to to do that so I could tour more of this giant stadium. I also went to a few Boat Shows and to countless Seattle Mariner baseball games there.  I recall in Junior high they would give us free tickets to Mariner games for being on Honor Roll. In 1978, The Kingdome was featured in one of my favorite TV shows at the time "Emergency" - the episode was titled "Most Deadly Passage" and I'd LOVE to see it again but I can't seem to figure out if it's on DVD.

The roof had problems since the beginning according to Wikipedia. In 1994 heavy tiles from the ceiling collapsed on to a seating area. The Kingdome needed to close for repairs. It reopened a little less than four months later with a cost of $51 million and the loss of life of two construction workers. Many were talking about its replacement. In 1999, Safeco field opened next door and The Seattle Mariners no longer played in the Kingdome.

Thirteen years ago today on March 26, 2000 the Kingdome was imploded to make room for the new Seahawk Stadium / Qwest Field / Century Link Field. It was pretty remarkable! Check out these two videos:





Enjoy these Kingdome postcards from my collection - a Seattle icon that is no more.


"King County Domed Stadium, Seattle" CT-886 "Covers 9.1 acres - 720 feet outside diameter - 250 feet to top of Dome - will seat 60,000 for baseball, 65,000 for football and 80,000 for personality shows. View as seen during construction in 1975, scheduled for completion in 1976." Pub. by Smith-Western Co., 1533 Broadway, Tacoma, Washington. Color by Kyle W. Smith ICS-106543


"King County Domed Stadium, Seattle, U. S. A." CT-996 "Dedicated March 27, 1976. This view shows a few of the 55,000 people who attended this gala event. The closed circuit television screen at top right is 49 feet X 65 feet. The stadium covers 9.1 acres - 250 feet to top of the dome - 720 feet outside diameter - will seat 60,000 for baseball, 65,000 for Seahawks Football and 80,000 for personality shows." Photo by Kyle W. Smith 10P309536

Just a note to mention that the Seattle Mariners are installing a new "Big Screen" at Safeco Field during the current off season - the one in the Kingdome was 65 feet wide the new Safeco one will be 201.5 feet wide.


"Seattle, Washington" Photo by Jack Leffler/Sky Eye. "Seattle, Washington - The Kingdome Stadium is a dominant feature south of the city's central business district." W-411


Kingdome - Seattle CT-994 "King County Domes (sic) Stadium Seattle, Washington. Covers 9.1 acres - 720 feet outside diameter - 250 feet to top of Dome - will seat 60,000 for baseball, 65,000 for football and 80,000 for personality shows. Dedicated March 27, 1976. Billy Graham Crusade May 9, 1976. Home of the NFL Seattle Sea-hawks - American League Baseball Seattle Mariners."


Seattle, Washington. night lights gild the Kingdome, home of the NFL Seattle Seahawks. Photo Walter J. Brown. CT-3505


Kingdome Stadium - Seattle, WA CT-2245 "King County Domed Stadium Seattle, Washington. Covers 9.1 acres - 720 feet outside diameter - 250 feet to top of Dome - will seat 60,000 for baseball, 65,000 for football and 80,000 for personality shows. Dedicated March 27, 1976. Home of the NFL Seattle Seahawks - American League Baseball Seattle Mariners."


CT-1477 "King County Domed Stadium Seattle, Washington. "Opened in 1976, this facility is the home of the NFL SEAHAWKS, AL MARINERS, NBA SONICS and the NASL SOUNDERS. The stadium covers 9.1 acres - 720 feet outside diameter - 250 feet to top of Dome - will seat 60,000 for baseball, 65,000 for football and soccer, 40,000 for basketball and 80,000 for personality shows."


Washington Picturecard CT-1573 "Kingdome, Seattle, Washington - Springtime view from Kobi Park. Opened in 1976, this facility is the home of the NFL SEAHAWKS, AL MARINERS, NBA SONICS and the NASL SOUNDERS. The stadium covers 9.1 acres - 720 feet outside diameter - 250 feet to top of Dome - will seat 60,000 for baseball, 65,000 for football and 80,000 for personality shows."


"Along Seattle, Washington's busy waterfront is Seattle's multi-purpose stadium, the Kingdome, with a maximum indoor seating capacity of 80,000. The stadium houses major sporting and entertainment events. Mt. Rainier (14,411 ft.) is on the horizon 90 miles away." Photo: David S. Curran.

Space Needle Postcard Messages

I've collected numerous old Washington state postcards this year.  Some are postally used. Some were never used. My favorites involve Seattle and often the Seattle Center where the Space Needle lives.  I collect postcards because as you probably know - I like old photos!  I've shared many of the images from these postcards the last few months.

However, I'm also finding I am entertained by the short little messages written on some.  I consider them longer versions of Tweets but shorter versions of the old-fashioned letter.  I think most senders don't consider postcards a private way to communicate (like Tweets!).  Occasionally I feel like reading postcards purchased on e-Bay is a little like eaves-dropping; the sender probably didn't have an inkling that a stranger half a century later would read them.  And not only read them but share these quaint correspondences featuring the Space Needle.

Ruth (and Al) write a sweet note to Mrs. Alwin Ginter in Connecticut July 1968,

"Went up in this the other day. Then took Inside Passage boat trip. The scenery was beautiful, mountains right down to the water. Resting up for trip home now."

the card front:


I can just imagine Mrs. Ginter upon receiving this in New England, quickly telephoning up their mutual neighbor whom I am pretending is named Mildred and relaying the lovely time their dear friend is having in the remote, newly settled, Pacific Northwest.

Grandma visiting the World's Fair reports behaving like a child July 1962 (her postcard is even postmarked from the Space Needle) to her family in Hawaii,

"Dear Brandeberrys, Arrived Friday 4 PM so rushed to the fair like any kid. Stood in line over an hour to get on the Needle. Beautiful country."

From Seattle Postcards

the card front:


These last two have the same postcard photo:

December 1966, Daddio writes Hugh in Virginia,

"Your ever-loving pappy is going to have dinner atop the Needle tonite. I hear it is almost as good as McDonnels.  Be good & I'll bring you a popsicle." 

I don't know if he is referring to McDonald's but that's what I'm imagining so that gave me a chuckle considering the price comparison between the two restaurants.


But this one is my very favorite of this group - I think it's also 1966 and sent to Mr. McCormick in Illinois.

"'Der Feuhreur' forced me to up to the top of this idiotic nonsensical senseless Rube Goldberg monstrocity before supper yesterday. No wonder I had horrible nightmares all night. They take you up & down in an elevator that goes up & down in a glass tube. Phoey! In Portland today Wed. Met Fr. Schulze of Gordon Tech HS 1 hr ago. We leave for Frisco Thurs. PM. Now at Hilton Portland Hotel."

What a hoot! I hope she was able to forgive "Der Feuhreur's" coercion and enjoy the rest of their West Coast vacation.

I think I have to learn how to write clever postcards in case any of mine happen to be read half a century later.

Evergreen Point Floating Bridge

Evergreen Point Floating Bridge on State Route 520 opened to traffic 49 years ago today on August 28, 1963. The toll was 35¢; the fee was removed in 1979. It was renamed "Albert. D. Rosellini Bridge" in 1988 after the governor who pushed for its construction. More from History Link here. This was the second floating bridge built on Lake Washington - the first Lake Washington Floating Bridge called "Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge" opened in 1940.

Seattle Municipal Archives has this "under construction" photo dated the week before the 1962 Seattle World's Fair opened. 



"Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. This view of Seattle's newest floating bridge looks from the west shore of Lake Washington to the ever expanding metropolitan area on the east shore which this new bridge serves. C-291 Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis"


"World's Longest Floating Bridge Seattle, Washington. The Evergreen Point Bridge and its approaches are nearly 6 miles long. The height of the roadway above Lake Washington can vary from 8-59 feet. The bridge was constructed by the Washington Toll Bridge Authority and includes 18 floating sections with a total of 62 anchors. Construction was completed in 3 years and cost approximately $34,000,000."


I had a view of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge from my University of Washington dorm room at McCarty Hall 1981-1982:
This was a January 1982 snowy sunrise with vapor swirling from Lake Washington

From College-UWash

Some awesome Historic Archive Photos of the Evergreen Point Floating 520 Bridge can be found here.
Check out Kurt Clark's post with a photo from Bellevue High School's 1972 yearbook: Friday Single Shot #28 – 520 Toll Booths
Also be sure to see Vintage Seattle Past Post: When The 520 Bridge Was New.
Those of you still in the area know the bridge is being upgraded and that the toll was re-introduced last year.  The toll rate depends on the time of day- it can be as high as $5.13 one way.
Click here for Current Work on the SR 520 Floating Bridge project.

Seattle's Smith Tower

Not to take anything away from the 236th birthday of the U.S.A. but it's also the 98th anniversary of the dedication of Seattle's Smith Tower according to this article from History Link -

On July 4, 1914, the 462-foot-high Smith Tower, located in downtown Seattle, is dedicated. At the time it is one of the tallest buildings west of New York and the tallest building west of Ohio.
Located at 506 2nd Avenue, the building took three and a half years to construct. The architects were Gaggin & Gaggin (Edwin H. and T. Walker Gaggin) of Syracuse, New York, and the owner was Lyman Cornelius Smith, a typewriter tycoon whose firm eventually became the Smith-Corona Company.

 More interesting Smith Tower history from History Link can be found in this informative article.

I've been growing my Seattle postcard collection. Here are some that include the primary Seattle icon prior to "Century 21", the Seattle World's Fair in 1962 when the Space Needle became the identifying Seattle landmark. I found this jumbo postcard at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop last summer - I think I paid one dollar.

"Seattle Business District. Tallest building in the city, the 42 - story Smith Tower dominates the downtown skyline. Other notable buildings include the Exchange Building, the Dexter-Norton (sic) Building and (in lower right foreground) the County-City Building. Seattle has grown rapidly in importance as a sea port and trading center, since its fine harbor and natural geographical location make it an ideal distribution point, and a focus of trade from the Far East. SA-4. Photograph Courtesy Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Jumbo Post-Card Company - 2017 South Michigan Avenue - Chicago 16, Illinois"

A few more:

"42 Story L. C. Smith Building, Seattle" "Pub. by the Puget Sound News Co., Seattle Wash." Postcard mailed in 1917


L. C. Smith Tower

This is a blurry postcard but you can still make out the lit Smith Tower in the distance. Can anyone help me date it? (It's pre Space Needle)

"Sunset on Mount Rainier as viewed from Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, Washington. Lights from the city center and waterfront enhance the beauty of this evening scene Ektachrome by Bob and Ira Spring"


"Union Oil Company's Natural Color Scenes of the West. Seattle, a major Pacific Coast port and gateway to Alaska and the Orient. Tour the West this year with 76 gasoline"
I love this postcard because not only does it have the Smith Tower but it has the Silver Slug - The Kalakala ferry!


Yep - almost cropped out of the postcard - the Smith Tower on the far right. Named building focal point is now the Space Needle . . .

"Seattle, Washington. This aerial view shows a portion of Elliott Bay, the waterfront, metropolitan area, Space Needle in the distance, Lake Union at upper right and the new freeway borders the far right of the picture. Color by Bud Kimball. Plastichrome by ColourPicture Boston, Mass. 02130"

Last summer, my pen-pal (since we were 14!), Marcus from London visited the USA. I had never been to the observation floor of the Columbia Center (Seattle's current tallest building) and that's where I took him to get some views of the region. I HIGHLY recommend it! The Smith Tower is a bit dwarfed these days but still a significant part of the Seattle landscape.

Someday maybe I'll get to visit the interior of the Smith. I really enjoyed this article from the New York Times of the family that lives in the Tower's Pyramid. Be sure to view the slideshow.

Happy 98th Smith Tower!

Lake Washington Floating Bridge

The Lake Washington Floating Bridge was dedicated 72 years ago today according to a History Link article - there was lots of celebrating the largest floating structure of its time which cut an hour off the commute time to Seattle.  There was even a surf boarding exhibition (??).

My memories of this bridge include "The Bulge" which was the portion of the bridge that opened for boaters.  This bridge had reversible lanes for high volume traffic times and if you chose the reversible lane you had to negotiate a counter-clockwise swerve directly facing barrier-free on-coming traffic.  It was terrifying.  Unfortunately, none of my postcards give a good glimpse of the bulge which was removed in 1981.  These views are from the Seattle side facing east toward Mercer Island. Officially the bridge is now named "Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge."


"Union Oil company's Natural color Scenes of the West. Lake Washington Bridge, Seattle, is a tribute to the ingenuity of American Engineers. Except for the entrances the bridge is full-floating, being supported by pontoons. A section can be moved to accommodate navigation." postcard mailed 1948


"The World's First Cement Floating Bridge"


"The Lake Washington Floating Bridge, the world's longest pontoon bridge, is the start of U. S. Highway 10 to the East. It takes one from downtown Seattle across Lake Washington toward Snoqualmie Pass. Ektachrome by Max R. Jensen"


"Lake Washington Floating Bridge, Seattle, Wash. This world famous structure carries U. S. Highway 10 across the lake and over the Cascade Mountains by way of Snoqualmie Pass. C-494 Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea"


"The Space Needle reigns over the city of Seattle with the business district in the foreground and Queen Anne Hill in the background. Lower view shows Lake Washington floating bridge. C13014. Color by Mike Roberts Berkeley, Calif, 94710"