October 15, 2012 - Smith Tower Topper

Seattle's 38 story Smith Tower opened July 3, 1914 and was the tallest office building west of the Mississippi until the early 1930s.  At 489 feet tall, it remained the tallest building on the west coast until 1962 when the 603 feet Space Needle was completed.  It is constructed of steel clad in ornamented terra cotta that has remained remarkably white over the years.  The only time it was cleaned was in the 1970s!  (Perhaps I should have taken this on a day that the sky had some contrasting color...)

One of the unique aspects of the Smith Tower are the elevators.  The brass and copper caged affairs by Otis Elevators are possibly the last manually operated elevators on the west coast.  They allow you to see into each floor lobby as you go up or down the building.

The building's namesake L.C. Smith, died before the building was completed. He and his brothers made their money with firms that manufactured guns, and beginning in 1893, typewriters.  The company that he helped form grew to become a name familiar to people of my generation and before - Smith Corona.

Atop the pyramid cap flies the symbol of the Seattle Seahawks fans- 12th Man Flag.  Below it, an 8 foot-wide dome is typically lit with a blue light.  Within the pyramid itself is a three story penthouse suite, the building's only residence.  At the base of the pyramid can be seen the railing of the observation deck on the 35th floor.  Also on the 35th floor is the Chinese Room with furniture and a hand carved ceiling given to Mrs. Smith by the Empress of China.