April 10, 2021 - Scenic Start

 

The sights from a ferry crossing Puget Sound - the Great Wheel, the Space Needle, the changing skyline, the mountains, the ships and boats - can be at least as scenic as your destination.  The excursion this day started aboard the M/V Walla Walla for the 35 minute crossing to Bainbridge Island.

The M/V Sealth heads west to Bremerton, a route that takes it around the southern end of Bainbridge Island.

The skyline  continues to evolve  between the bookends of downtown, the Smith Tower, built in 1914, and the Space Needle, built in 1961.  At the time each of those structures was built they became the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  Currently there are about 43 cranes in Seattle, tied with LA for the second most in the country.  (The crane at the Climate Pledge Arena, due to open this fall, just recently came down.)  

The demolition of the double-decker Alaskan Way Viaduct was completed in November of 2019.  This has accelerated the opportunities for development to connect downtown with the waterfront.  (For reference, the photo of the skyline and waterfront was taken in 2009.)   

    

Two 35,000 ton Panama-flagged bulk carriers were anchored in Elliott Bay.  The Omishima Island, recently arrived from San Marcos, Mexico and the brand new Juno Avenir, recently arrived from Niigata, Japan.  

 

The Marshall Foss, one of 90 tugboats in Foss Maritime fleet, heads to another job.  Thea Foss started the business in 1889 in Tacoma with one rowboat she painted a sharp green and white.  Before expanding into powered tugboats, the company fleet was made up of rowboats, many built by her husband.  Today the Foss name can be seen in ports throughout North America.

The M/V Suquamish heads to Seattle, passing her partner on the Seattle-Bainbridge run.

Retired ferries, including the M/V Klahowya and M/V Hyak, at the Bainbridge ferry terminal.

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.