Smith Tower
About
What It Is
Smith Tower is a 38-story, 462-foot (141 m) skyscraper located at 506 Second Avenue in the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. [2] It opened on July 4, 1914, making it one of the tallest buildings outside New York City at the time of its completion, and it held the title of tallest building on the U.S. West Coast for nearly half a century until 1962. [2] Built by Syracuse industrialist Lyman Cornelius Smith and largely overseen by his son Burns Lyman Smith, the tower was designated a Seattle landmark in 1984. [2] Its distinctive pyramid cap and gleaming white terra-cotta cladding have made it a recognized icon of the Seattle skyline. [4]
Activities & Experiences
Visitors can access the historic 35th-floor Observatory, which offers 360-degree views of downtown Seattle from an open-air viewing deck. [3] The Observatory houses a speakeasy-inspired bar serving craft cocktails, a nod to the building's Prohibition-era rum-running history. [3] Guided tours called Talking Tower Tours run approximately 45 minutes and cover the building's history, characters, and legends; self-guided visits are also available. [1] Guests can seek out the Wishing Chair and other storied features on the 35th floor. [3]
Practical Access
The Observatory is open Monday and Tuesday from 12 PM to 7 PM, Wednesday and Thursday from 12 PM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 12 PM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 12 PM to 8 PM; hours are subject to change due to private events. [1] Standard Observatory tickets are priced from USD 18 to USD 25 for a self-guided visit, and a combo ticket pairing the guided Talking Tower Tour with Observatory admission runs from USD 25 to USD 30; Washington State residents pay from USD 18 all day, every day. [1] Group tickets for parties of 10 or more are available from USD 18. [1] Booking tickets online in advance is recommended to secure a time slot. [1]
Restrictions
Observatory hours may be reduced or altered on days when private events are scheduled. [1]
What Makes It Distinctive
Smith Tower was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River at its opening and held West Coast height supremacy for nearly 50 years, giving it a historical stature no newer Seattle tower can claim. [2] Its 35th-floor Observatory has welcomed visitors since opening day in 1914, when over 4,000 Seattleites rode the original Otis elevators to the top on the first day alone. [5] The building's layered history, spanning Prohibition rum-running, a Chinese-style observatory interior, and connections to Seattle's early commercial boom, sets it apart from purely architectural landmarks. [3][4] It remains, in the words of one historian, the Northwest's best-loved skyscraper despite being physically surpassed by 15 taller Seattle buildings. [4]
Sources
- Open year-round
- Typical duration: 1h
Access & fees
- adult general admission
- group ticket (10+ people)
- guided tour combo adult
- washington resident admission
Things to do
- craft cocktails at observatory bar
- guided talking tower tour
- private event hosting
- seasonal events and brunches
- self-guided observatory tour
- self-guided observatory visit
- wishing chair visit
Before you go
- book tickets online in advance
- observatory hours may vary
Amenities
- caffe vita on-site
Events & seasons
- boozy brunches
- cocktail classes
- holiday soirees
Features
- 35th-floor observatory
- 360-degree city views
- 38-story skyscraper
- chinese-style observatory interior
- completed 1914
- historic otis elevators
- seattle landmark 1984
- tallest west coast building 1914–1962
- tallest west of mississippi 1914–1931
- terra-cotta exterior cladding
- year opened
Nearby
- pioneer square district
- pioneer square neighborhood
Good to know
- address
- hours fri–sat
- hours mon–tue
- hours sunday
- hours wed–thu
- neighborhood
- phone number
- private events availability
Photos
