Little Blue Birdie's diary

The Space Needle of Seattle

Dear Diary,

Remember the trip we made to Mount Rushmore recently? It was wonderful, wasn't it? Carving out figures from stone is nothing new for us in Sri Lanka, because we have all seen the astounding ruins in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

This time too, we thought of visiting another landmark in USA. Our chosen destination was the Space Needle in Seattle. Hey, don't misunderstand! This is not a needle used by aliens to stitch their clothes, but it's a 605 feet (184 metre) tall tower designed by Edward E. Carlson for the 1962 World Fair in Seattle. This futuristic tower has now become a symbol of the city and is home to festive events such as the annual New Year's Eve fireworks display.

The structure of the Space Needle has gone through many transformations over the years. Did you know that early plans for the structure had called for a tethered(tied up) balloon? Carlson's plan had called for a soaring needle topped by a disk, reminiscent (reminding) of a flying saucer.

The structure had required a 120 foot square underground foundation. The amazing thing is that 467 trucks of cement had spent an entire day filling the hole! The completed foundation is known to weigh as much as the Needle.

Massive steel beams form the slender legs and upper body of the Needle. The structure is designed to withstand a wind velocity(rate of motion in given direction) of 200 miles per hour, but storms occasionally force the place to close, while several earth tremors have caused the Needle to sway.

"This tower was completed in December 1961," said our guide bird, "But it officially opened four months later, on the first day of the World Fair in April 21, 1962," he added. We enjoyed the stories about the origin of the Space Needle.

The most beautiful parts of the Space Needle are the top, which looks like a 'flying saucer,' and the base.

The Space Needle's Legacy Light was first illuminated (lit up) on New Year's Eve 1999/2000, and has been displayed on major national holidays. A beam of light that shines skyward from the top of the Space Needle, the Legacy honours national holidays and commemorates special occasions in Seattle. This light is based on the original concept of a beam of light shinning atop the Space Needle.

There are 832 steps to the observation deck. The average elevator trip to the top takes 43 seconds. The revolving restaurant is 500 feet above the ground. It had taken 400 days to design and build the Needle.

There are 24 lightning rods on the top of the Needle. Its tip is 730.25 feet above sea level. The total weight of the structure is 9550 tons, including the weight of the foundation. On a hot day, the Space Needle expands about one inch. The entire Space Needle saucer does not revolve, only a 14-foot ring next to the windows does.

The original name of the Space Needle had been the Space Cage. The original revolving restaurant, Eye of the Needle, is now called Sky City. Upon completion, the Needle was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi river.

Recently, the management of this complex had started work on a 'Live the View' theme; accordingly, the redesigned observation deck offers a 360 degree unobstructed view.

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