We picked a GREAT day to go to the Space Needle. Today was the launch of Angry Birds Space and to celebrate, there was a giant Angry Bird ready to be launched on the Space Needle!
We walked over from Amber’s work just after lunch.
I see something in the distance…
Wow! I am getting so excited!
The clouds and the sky looked very beautiful. The Space Needle was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair and now it is the first thing people think of when they think of the Seattle skyline. We have passed it everyday going into Amber’s work and I was really excited to be there.
“Built in 1962, the Space Needle served as the symbol of that year's World's Fair. It has since become the symbol of Seattle, and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.” http://www.spaceneedle.com/aboutus/
Having an Angry Bird was even better!
Near the main elevators
Heading up to the observation deck.
I LOVE SEATTLE!
I bought a t-shirt but it is a bit big. Hopefully 3D Justice will fill it out better.
What city landmarks have you been to?
Seattle Fun Facts (I thought we’d do a lot since the Space Needle ROCKS):
Space Needle Fun Facts
The Structure
- Top of the Space Needle - Aircraft Warning Beacon: 605 feet
- Observation Deck: 520 feet
- Revolving SkyCity Restaurant: 500 feet
- SkyLine Banquet Facility: 100 feet
- Pavilion entrance and SpaceBase Retail Shop: ground level
- Bottom of foundation: 30 feet below ground
- The Space Needle was built on a 120’ x 120’ lot formerly owned by the city of Seattle, which was sold to investors for $75,000 in 1961, just one year before the opening of the World’s Fair.
- There are 848 steps from the bottom of the basement to the top of the Observation Deck.
- During the construction of the Space Needle, it took 467 cement trucks less than 12 hours to fill the foundation hole (30 feet deep and 120 feet across); this was the largest continuous concrete pour ever attempted in the West.
- When the Space Needle was built in 1962 it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.
- The foundation weighs 5,850 tons and there are 250 tons of reinforcing steel alone (i.e., rebar) in the foundation. The Needle structure weighs 3,700 tons.
- The center of gravity for the Space Needle is 5 feet above the ground.
- The Space Needle is fastened to its foundation with 72 bolts, each 30 feet in length.
- The Space Needle sways approximately 1 inch for every 10 mph of wind. It was built to withstand a wind velocity of 200 miles per hour, doubling the 1962 building code requirements. When winds around the Needle reach high speeds, 35 mph or higher, the elevators are designed to reduce their traveling speed to 5 mph for safety reasons. During the 1993 Inaugural Day storm, wind gusts reached 90 mph
and the top house was closed for an hour and a half.
- On a hot day the Space Needle expands about one inch.
- There are 25 lightning rods (24 actual rods plus the tower) on the roof of the Needle to withstand lightning strikes.
- Diameter of the halo is 138 feet.
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