1997: Smith Tower & Pergola

Named a city landmark in 1987, the Smith Tower opened to the public on the Fourth of July, 1914. Then the tallest building outside of New York, it was one of the main reasons for Seattle being known at the time as the "New York of the Pacific". The Smith Tower remained the tallest building west of the Mississippi River until 1960.

The 42-story Smith Tower and nearby Pergola arch stand on a site which was once waterfront property, where Indians had erected their teepees. Designed by Gaggin & Gaggin, and built by Lyman C. Smith, both from Syracuse, New York, it took four years to construct. It was one of the earliest buildings to use a "skeleton" steel frame, which made it possible to rise above 10-stories. The steel, from Pittsburgh, took 20-weeks to fabricate, and was transported via 164 rail cars, each weighing 28 tons. A record was established during construction, with 8 floors put in place in one week, with just one derrick, and in bad weather to boot.

All structural steel was covered with concrete to make it "as indestructible by fire as the Pyramids," a revolutionary concept at the time. The exterior is elegant white terra cotta, with onyx and white Alaskan marble used throughout the interior for decorative accent. The 600 offices feature 1,432 steel doors and 2,314 bronze en­cased windows.

On the 35th floor, visitors will find the Chinese tea-room, a veritable "Aladdin's Cave" of the East with Chinese furniture, bronze lanterns, a chair given by the Empress of China, and Chinese characters on panels around the room, which de­scribe the history of Seattle. The bank of eight brass-caged elevators are still oper­ated by human attendants, making the ride up a signature Seattle event.

The Smith Tower had a brush with notoriety in the 1970's. Then owner Ivar Haglund, founder of many Seattle seafood restaurants, caused quite a stir when he flew a fish-shaped windsock from the flagpole at the top of the building in place of the American flag.

-Dashiel Wham, Writer (1997)