Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Start this walk at the south end of downtown at the Arctic Building ( Click
here ) . Crane your neck to get a look at the walrus heads on the building's exterior.
Then walk up Cherry St and take a left onto 4th Ave.
The Columbia Center ( Click here ) , formerly the Bank of America Tower and
the Columbia Seafirst Center, takes up the block between 4th and 5th Aves and
Columbia and Cherry Sts. This is the tallest building on the West Coast. If you
have time, check out the observation deck on the 73rd floor.
Follow 4th Ave to Madison St, to Safeco Plaza ( Click here ) . Built in 1969,
this was one of the city's first real skyscrapers, and it ended the Space Needle's
short seven-year reign at the top. The building ushered in a era of massive down-
town growth - most of it in a vertical direction. It is now Seattle's fifth tallest sky-
scraper.
Just across 4th Ave, hop into the Seattle Public Library ( Click here ) and
take a quick ride up the lime-green escalators to see how good architecture can
combine practicality and beauty. There are good views from the top levels.
Continue north on 4th Ave to University St and take a left, walk half a block and
look up. Formerly the Northern Life Tower, the Seattle Tower ( Click here ) , an
art-deco skyscraper built in 1928, was designed to reflect the mountains of the
Pacific Northwest.
Continue down University St across 3rd Ave. The beauty of the Seattle skyline
is reflected in the blue-and-cream 1201 Third Avenue at 3rd Ave at Seneca
St, which changes colors with the clouds and sunsets. Enter off 3rd Ave to ex-
plore the building's stunning interior.
Cross University St to Benaroya Concert Hall ( Click here ) . Walk into the
glass-enclosed lobby of the performance hall, where you can take in excellent
views of Elliott Bay. Check out Dale Chihuly's 20ft-long chandeliers.
Since you're this close, continue along University to get an eyeful of the
Seattle Art Museum ( Click here ). It may not be one of the seven wonders of the
architecture world, especially from the outside, but it is a clever solution to the
problem of finding more and better gallery space in the crowded downtown core.
Walk back up University St, across 3rd Ave to the corner of 4th Ave. Look up at
the 1910 Cobb Building and see remnants of an older Seattle. Peering out
from the building is the dour terra-cotta head of a Native American chief.
Continue on University St across 4th Ave to Rainier Tower . Taking up an en-
tire block between 4th and 5th Aves and University and Union Sts is Rainier Sq, a
shopping center connected to the top-heavy tower. Cross University St and gaze
in wonder at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel ( Click here ) , undoubtedly one of the
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