My Seattle: that tower again
“That Tower Again,” a three-word online phrase for the early 21st-century.
It’s a phrase I associate with Berlin and her TV Tower (Fernsehturm), and that comes with multiple stays and many months in the German capita, a city I feel very much at home (winters notwithstanding). With my return to the Canadian Southwest and near-proximity to Seattle, I reconsider my fondness for the city’s iconic landmark: the Space Needle observation tower. Sight of the tower hasn’t lost its allure since our first family visit in the late 1970s.
For the Seattle World Fair in 1962, construction of the Space Needle occurred over a mere 400 days in time for the “Century 21 Exposition”. The 605-foot (184 metre) tower stood for the spirit of innovation and the might of technology. The city of Seattle designated the tower as an official city landmark in 1999. Fast forward now into the 21st century, it’s unfathomable for resident and visitor alike to think about the Emerald City without its leading spire.
Lines of Sight
Numerous visits have provided multiple lines of sight throughout various parts of the city. I present the following 28 lines of sight to the “pointyness”:
- 1201 Third
- Alki Beach Park
- Amazon Doppler
- Aurora Ave N (at Mercer St)
- Centennial Park
- Century Link Field
- Cinerama (Belltown)
- Eastlake (I-5)
- Elephant Car Wash (Denny Triangle)
- Ella Bailey Park
- “Father and Son” (Belltown)
- Gas Works Park
- Industrial District (LINK over 6th Ave S)
- International District
- Kerry Park
- Lake Union Park
- Lower Queen Anne
- MoPOP
- Olympic Sculpture Park
- Pacific Science Center
- Salish Sea (Elliott Bay)
- Seattle Center
- Smith Tower
- “Sonic Bloom”
- Tilikum Place
- Tower Records (demolished)
- Volunteer Park
- West Seattle Bridge
1201 Third
Waaaay up in the city’s 2nd tallest building# – 11 May 2016 (6D1).
Alki Beach Park
Late-winter afternoon in West Seattle; WSDOT ferry approaches the city – 6 Mar 2020 (X70).
Amazon Doppler
Above the dissipating morning fog% – 11 Dec 2017 (6D1).
Aurora Ave N (at Mercer St)
Facing south towards the yellow ventilation stacks at the north exit of SR-99 (WA-99) tunnel – 11 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Centennial Park
South view along the shoreline near Shipmates Light in Centennial Park – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Century Link Field
Photo on 18 Feb 2012 (450D) from the stadium’s 3rd level: looking north along the city waterfront; the radio towers to the right of the Space Needle are behind on Queen Anne Hill. VSP indicates the location of Victor Steinbrueck Park for the “reverse view” of Century Link Field
Facing north past the Hawks Nest – 15 Apr 2017 (6D1).
Cinerama (Belltown)
“Rogue 1” – 6 Jan 2017 (6D1).
Eastlake (I-5)
Southbound on I-5 Express – 11 May 2016 (6D1).
Elephant Car Wash (Denny Triangle)
Super neon, in rotation – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Ella Bailey Park (Magnolia)
Late-winter afternoon – 4 Mar 2020 (X70).
“Father and Son” (Belltown)
2005 sculpture and fountain by Louise Bourgeois (Seattle Art Museum) – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Gas Works Park
High noon over Lake Union – 9 Dec 2017 (6D1).
Industrial District (LINK over 6th Ave S)
LINK light-rail Red line between Beacon Hill and SODO stations, as the needle pokes up and out into view – 26 Nov 2016 (6D1).
International District
Between King Street Station and Union Station – 9 Feb 2017 (6D1).
Kerry Park
Standard pre-sunset view, with guest appearance from Mount Rainier – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1 with 70-300 glass at 150mm).
Lake Union Park
The winter’s sharp – 8 Jan 2017 (6D1).
Lower Queen Anne
Waiting for the D, at Mercer Street and Queen Anne Avenue North – 9 Oct 2016 (6D1).
MoPOP
Morning over MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture) – 10 Dec 2017 (6D1).
Olympic Sculpture Park
Framed by “The Eagle”, 1971 sculpture by Alexander Calder (Seattle Art Museum) – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Pacific Science Center
Arches – 28 Nov 2016 (6D1).
Salish Sea (Elliott Bay)
On board WSDOT ferry MV Kaleetan from Bremerton, the Needle pops up at left-centre – 6 Jan 2015 (6D1).
Seattle Center
Vertical focus from base – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Smith Tower
Northwest along 2nd Avenue to the pointy (top right) – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1).
“Sonic Bloom”
“Sonic Bloom”, by Dan Corson – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Tilikum Place
Mono-rail, KOMO-split – 10 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Tower Records (demolished)
Music mural on back wall of old Tower Records store at 5th Avenue North and Roy Street – 9 Oct 2016 (6D1).
Volunteer Park
Eye of the sun – 3 Mar 2020 (X70); Curbed.
West Seattle Bridge
Port of Seattle, in front of the towers of the central business district (downtown) – 6 Mar 2020 (X70).
I acknowledge my time on the traditional and ancestral land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish (DxΚ·dΙwΚabΕ‘) People past and present, and honour with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe. I made all photos above with a Canon EOS450D/Rebel XSi in 2012; a Canon 6D mark 1 (6D1) in 2015, 2016, and 2017; and a Fujifilm X70 fixed-lens prime (X70) in 2020. My thanks to MF# and to JD% for their time and generosity. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com as https://wp.me/p1BIdT-beB.
Fotoeins Fotografie 
7 Responses to “My Seattle: that tower again”
What wonderful inspiration, Henry. I can see why you’re fascinated by this iconic site. Among your photos, I especially love your first header shot and the one of Belltown. It’s great seeing the history and span of your visits in one post.
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Hi and thanks, Patti. I’m glad you liked the post and images. Have you been to Seattle before? If yes, when was the last time you were in the city? Thanks again for your kind comments!
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Hi, Henry. Yes, I’ve been to Seattle once about 3 years ago. Unfortunately, it was pouring the whole time!
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Hi, Patti. Yes, it can be grey and damp in these parts at the worst of times. But I hope you’ll return and see Seattle under better conditions.
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We will, Henry. π
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