Since its grand opening on April 21, 1962, the landmark continues to symbolize … The 1962 Worlds Fair. In 1982 the SkyLine level was added at 30m (100 feet). However, just before the search was abandoned, a suitable 120-foot-by-120-lot on the site of an old fire station was found and sold to investors for $75,000 in 1961, just 13 months before the opening of the World’s Fair. The designer of the nation’s first shopping mall, John Graham, created the final, saucer-shaped design of the Seattle Space Needle. When the Beatles visited Seattle in 1964, they were too afraid of heights to go up in the Space Needle. Seattle Center is an arts, educational, tourism and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington, United States.Spanning an area of 74 acres (30 ha), it was originally built for the 1962 World's Fair.Its landmark feature is the 605-foot (184 m) tall Space Needle, which at the time of its completion was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Let’s get ‘Spacey’The basic Space Needle tower was completed in December 1961, eight months after it began. From an all-glass floor below to an open-air deck above. The Space Needle was completed in December 1961 and officially opened four months later the first day of the World Fair, April 21, 1962. The Space Needle wasn’t the only construction built for the fair that year. Want to bring your school group to the Space Needle? [It] embodies in its form and construction the era’s belief in commerce, technology and progress.”. Curtis says the Space Needle could have been built with a lot less steel and be fine. But the Space Needle is more than just a visual icon, it’s a product of the 1962 World’s Fair. This financially-savvy approach still doesn’t stop filmmakers from editing in Seattle’s signature landmark. The Space Needle, an observation tower and restaurant in Seattle, Washington, was originally built for the 1962 World's Fair. The Space Needle's elevators were the last pieces to arrive before the opening, the last one just one day before the fair opened. World's Fair signage, 1962 | © Seattle Municipal Archives / Flickr. The first obstacle was the structure’s final design. It was built in a record-breaking 400 days, earning it the nickname “The 400 Day Wonder.” Upon its completion, it was featured at the 1962 World’s Fair. BUY TICKETS LIMITED TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE OPEN DAILY MONDAY - FRIDAY 12:00PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 11:00AM CLICK FOR CLOSING TIMES & MORE INFO In keeping with the 21st Century theme of the World’s Fair, the final coats of paint were dubbed ‘Astronaut White’ for the legs, ‘Orbital Olive’ for the core of the structure, ‘Re-entry Red’ for the Halo and ‘Galaxy Gold’ for the sunburst and pagoda roof. The Space Needle remained open to the public during the renovation. For its 35th anniversary in 1997, the tower introduces a new, short-lived mascot, Sneedle. The tower completed a $20 million revitalization in 2000. Learn more about our special rates here. During the expo the tower hosted an estimated 2.65 million visitors. Since it wasn't financed by the city, the land had to be purchased within the fairgrounds. [194] At 1,149 ft (350 m), it is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States, [195] and the second-tallest in the Western Hemisphere , surpassed only by the CN Tower in Toronto , Ontario . late January 1962. Workers painting Space Needle roof Galaxy Gold, ca. It was built in a record-breaking 400 days, earning it the nickname “The 400 Day Wonder.” Upon its completion, it was featured at the 1962 World’s Fair. The Space Needle is the most recognizable landmark in the Pacific Northwest, and is the symbol of Seattle, Washington. The entire Seattle Center, from the tall legged Science Pavilion to the monorail to what is now known as the Key Arena, is all thanks to the 1962 celebration. 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