In 1852, on the shores of Elliot Bay, in the Puget Sound, 182 kilometers from the border of America with Canada, a city was founded, called Elki Point. Some time later, it was renamed in honor of the leader of the Indians - Seattle. It received official city status in 1869.
Surrounded by mountains and waters, Seattle is the perfect backdrop for photography and outdoor recreation throughout the year. The sights of Seattle and its environs attract thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. In this article, we will introduce you to some of them.
Seattle Attractions: Space Needle
If you happen to visit this American city, then for sure the locals will recommend that you see the unique Space Needle tower first of all. Many of the sights in Seattle are quite original, but this one is a recognized leader among them.
It owes its appearance to the International Exhibition, which was held in the city in 1962. The "Space Needle" (as its name is translated) is part of the architectural complex of the Seattle Center, whichwas built for this event. She gained immense popularity immediately after the completion of construction. During the exhibition, more than two million tourists visited it.
The author of the idea was Edward Carlson, who at that time was the chairman of the exhibition. But this man was very far from architecture, so his sketch was significantly modified. The futuristic look of the tower was quite consistent with the theme of the exhibition - the XXI century.
More than five hundred truckloads of cement were used for the foundation of this structure. The tower has a large margin of safety. It is able to withstand both a 9-magnitude earthquake and the strongest hurricane. The TV tower weighs ninety tons and is 184 meters high. The building is crowned with a narrow spire, which gave the name to the object. Initially, construction cost the city treasury four and a half million dollars, and 20 million were spent on the reconstruction in 2000.
Today everyone who wants to see Seattle (attractions) is here. A photo (the tower is included in all excursion programs) against the backdrop of this magnificent structure is taken by many in order to preserve good memories of the trip. On the first floor of the building there is a shop "Space Base", where original souvenirs are sold. On the observation deck (159 m) guests rise by high-speed elevators. Due to the fact that they have a limit on the number of visitors, sometimes there are small queues.
Besides the observation deck, there is a restaurant on the top floor. At first there were two. After the reconstruction, it was decided to leave one, which was named "Heavenly City". Today it is the most popular and stylish restaurant in the city. From a bird's eye view, you can enjoy stunning views of all of Seattle, Port Eliot Bay, Mount Rainier, mountains, and numerous islands.
Science Fiction and Music History Museum
Not all attractions in Seattle (photos and descriptions of the most interesting ones are presented in the article) can be found in travel agency brochures. And this museum is in all advertising publications and guides. The "metal" brainchild of architect Frank Gehry is located in the city center. Someone considers this unusual building, whose area is no less than 42 thousand square meters, ugly, and someone admires its originality.
This building houses one of the state's most interesting museums. It opened in 2000 and is called the Music History Project. The idea of its creation belongs to a fan of J. Hendrix - Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft Corporations. The galleries of the museum acquaint with the musical instruments exhibited here, photographs, videos of world-famous musicians. In the museum, each guest is given the opportunity to record their song, learn how to play the guitar and even perform in front of the public.
Fantastic Museum
In 2004, the Science Fiction Museum was opened here, which will tell fans of this genre about starships, inhabitants of other civilizations, etc. In the Hall of Fame, you can learn details from life andcreativity of the great science fiction writers and directors who made films in this genre. The museum has about 80 thousand rare exhibits.
Log House Museum
If Seattle's previous landmarks are impressive in size, this museum, located next to the famous Elki Beach, seems very small. The treasures that are collected here tell about the history and identity of the region.
Probably, it is no coincidence that its main exposition is called "Motherland - Seattle". This small but very educational establishment offers visitors to get acquainted with ancient artifacts, visit multimedia presentations of exhibitions that tell about the local settlers and indigenous people of Shukuamish and Dyuwamish.
Monthly there are activities for young visitors and various groups of adults (by interest). You can visit a small gift shop.
Kubot Garden
Sights of Seattle (USA) are very diverse. It is unlikely that even the most sophisticated traveler expects to see waterfalls and neat bridges, cherry blossoms and other elements typical of the Land of the Rising Sun among the numerous skyscrapers and amazing "space" structures. We are talking about the Kubota Garden, which is undoubtedly one of the main and most interesting sights of the city, as well as a favorite vacation spot for citizens.
It was created by an immigrant from Japan, Fujitaro Kubota. He is the author of many of the most interesting landscape art projects in the United States. The talented master arrived in America in 1907, and set up his magnificent garden in Seattle in 1927. Of course, creating this beauty, the master remembered his native land.
Kubota Garden occupies a fairly large area, so before starting the tour, visitors are given a map that shows the most interesting places.
St. James Cathedral
Describing the sights of Seattle (the photo you see in this article), one cannot fail to mention the majestic, monumental Cathedral of St. James. This Catholic church is located in the expensive area of First Hill. It can be called a gem of iconic architecture in the state of Washington. Such a cathedral would be quite appropriate in the main square of Paris or Florence. Nevertheless, the temple was built in cheerful and hospitable Seattle. The locals are very kind to him.
It should be noted that US churches do not have such a rich history as similar buildings in Europe. However, St. James has already celebrated its first centenary. It was built in 1907 specifically for the Diocese of Washington, which was moved to Seattle from Vancouver. At that time, it had been in existence for more than half a century. The diocese gradually expanded and needed a worthy cathedral.
Unfortunately, negligent builders were caught, or maybe the architect made a mistake in the project, but after 9 years (1916) due to heavy snowfall, the dome of the temple failed. Restoration work began immediately, but the original plan of the temple was decidedthere was little change. This was followed by a major overhaul in the 50s of the last century, in the 80s the rector's house and utility rooms were completed. Thus, the cathedral today differs significantly from the original project. However, the city government has included it in the official list of "Seattle Landmarks".
Smith Tower
"Smith's Tower" is inferior in height to the Space Needle. This building with a height of 42 floors ranks third among the skyscrapers of the city. But that's not what makes her remarkable. Smith Tower is the city's oldest high-rise building and was built in 1914. On the thirty-fifth floor there is a large observation deck, traditional for all skyscrapers.
Kerry Park
If you want to relax in nature while in Seattle, go to one of the most beautiful parks in the city - Kerry Park. This is a real urban oasis, with stunning flora and magnificent landscapes that you can admire endlessly.
Fun fact: Seattle is one of the greenest cities in America. There are more than 400 squares and parks on its territory.
We have listed only some of the sights of Seattle. This is a stunning city that harmoniously combines the echoes of the past and the present and feels the breath of the future. It is never boring here and there is always something to see. Perhaps that is why tourists who have been here once return to the city again and again.
