Since the end of the 1800s, only seven different buildings have held the distinction of being Seattle’s tallest structure. In chronological order, they are…
Pioneer Building
Ca. unknown
Ca. 1900
Years tallest: 1892 – 1904
Height: 94 feet, 6 floors
Location: 600 First Avenue
Interesting facts: Built on the site of Yesler Mansion, the Richardsonian Romanesque-style structure was designed by architect Elmer Fisher. In 1898, during the Klondike Gold Rush, the Pioneer Building was home to 48 mining companies. During the prohibition era, the building was home to Seattle’s first speakeasy.
Alaska Building
Ca. 1909
Ca. 1913
Years tallest: 1904 – 1906
Height: 203 feet, 14 floors
Location: 618 2nd Avenue
Interesting facts: Developed as Seattle’s original skyscraper and built in only 11 months, the building was also the first steel-framed structure in the Northwest. In 2007 the Alaska Building was purchased for $38.7 million and is now a Marriott hotel.
King Street Station Tower
Ca. 1906
Ca. 1911
Ca. 1950
Years tallest: 1906 – 1914
Height: 246 feet, 8 floors
Location: 303 South Jackson Street
Interesting facts: The station was designed by Minnesota architects Charles A. Reed and Allen H. Stem, who later went on to create New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. King Street Station originally served as the Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway until Amtrack became prominent in the early 1970s.
Smith Tower
Ca. 1913
Ca. 1923
Ca. 1929
Ca. 1950
Years tallest: 1914 – 1961
Height: 489 feet, 49 floors
Location: 506 Second Avenue
Interesting facts: Smith Tower was originally built by typewriter and firearm entrepreneur Lyman Cornelius Smith. Although Lyman didn’t live to see the project through to completion, his son was able to continue his legacy. Smith Tower quickly became the tallest structure on the West Coast until the Space Needle stole the title in 1962. Today, the tower’s pyramid-shaped penthouse is home to Petra Franklin Lahaie and her family. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is surprisingly spacious at 1,750 square feet.
Space Needle
Ca. 1961
Ca. 1978
Years tallest: 1961 – 1969
Height: 605 feet
Location: 400 Broad Street
Interesting facts: The original plans for the Space Needle were drawn on a coffee shop placemat in 1959 by entrepreneur Edward E. Carlson. By the time land was finally acquired to build the Space Needle, construction crews had only one year to get the structure completed in time for the 1961 World’s Fair, which had a 21st century theme. The modular, flying saucer-topped Space Needle was to be the main event. More interesting facts and historic photos of the Space Needle can be found here.
Safeco Plaza
Ca. 1969
Ca. 1970
Years tallest: 1969 – 1985
Height: 630 feet, 50 floors
Location: 1001 Fourth Avenue
Interesting facts: The building, which also goes by the names 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza and Seattle-First National Bank Building, was one of the first rectangular skyscrapers to mark the Seattle skyline.
Columbia Center
Ca. 1986
Ca. 2014
Years tallest: 1985 – present
Height: 943 feet, 76 floors
Location: 701 5th Avenue
Interesting facts: Formerly known as Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, this building is now the second tallest skyscraper on the West Coast. During construction, 15,000 tons of steel were used to build the massive building. In summer 2015, the center was purchased for $711 million by Hong Kong investors.
