City: Seattle, WA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (206) 622-4004

Address: 506 2nd Ave. (Central)

Description: This 42-story, 522-foot building in the heart of historic Pioneer Square was one of the world’s first skyscrapers. At the time it was built in 1914, it was an architectural feat and the tallest office building in the world outside Manhattan. Burns Lyman Smith dismissed the plans of his father, Lyman Cornelius Smith, for a mere 14-story building in favor of the far more ambitious tower that stands today—solely to gain publicity for their firm’s new product, the Smith typewriter. The building is ornate, from its exterior white ornamental terra-cotta and bronze window frames to the Alaskan marble, Mexican onyx, mosaic tiles, and polished brass that adorn the interior. Doors are made of steel that was hand finished to resemble a highly grained mahogany. But the crown jewel is the legendary 35th-floor Chinese Room, which derives its name from the incredible carved wood and porcelain ceiling, and the elaborately carved blackwood furniture that was a gift from the empress of China. The observation deck on the 35th floor offers historic downtown and waterfront views, all the way to the mountains in the distance. Access to the deck is via the last manually operated elevators on the West Coast, original brass and copper cages. The observation deck is open daily Apr through Oct; weekends only Nov through Mar.