Seattle's Smith Tower to Open for Tours and Events

Don’t you just love the Seattle landmark, the venerable Smith Tower? Smith Tower was Seattle’s first skyscraper. It is recognizable even as you drive into Seattle. 

It has just been announced that tickets are now on sale for the new tour and visitor experience at Smith Tower, reopening to the public on August 25. Presale tickets can be purchased at www.smithtower.com. Be one of the first to experience “The Legends of Smith Tower” self-guided tour celebrating the iconic building’s history and architecture. This tour provides a fascinating and humorous introduction to Seattle through the lens of the city’s first skyscraper.

Smith Tower has been revitalized from the ground floor to the Observatory. The interactive tour was designed and developed by the San Francisco office of Gallagher & Associates, an internationally recognized museum planning and design firm. The firm gathered valuable research on the unique history of both building and city creating an engaging tour for visitors to explore and uncover fascinating details about Smith Tower’s storied past through various historical settings and interactive experiences.

The original space on the 35th floor, formerly known as the Chinese Room, is currently in the final stages of renovation and will now be known as the Smith Tower Observatory, home to Smith Tower Temperance café and bar. The Observatory will feature original elements of the historic Chinese Room space including the ornate ceiling tiles, the famed Wishing Chair and other artifacts that pay homage to the vibrant past life of this space and the memories shared by visitors over the years.

Temperance, a speakeasy-style concept, will serve a menu inspired by Prohibition and Smith Tower’s historical Asian influence. Visitors will find a menu composed of light fare including seasonal bites, banh mi sandwiches, a raw oyster bar and craft cocktails celebrating the building and the Observatory’s roots.

Each visitor will be whisked up to the top of the tower in the historic Otis elevators where they will take in 360-degree views of Seattle from the exhilarating open-air observation deck.

Beginning August 25, Smith Tower will offer two new tour and viewing experiences for tourists, tenants and visitors:

The Legends of Smith Tower. A perfect starting point for new visitors to discover Smith Tower, The Legends of Smith Tower tour runs every ten minutes beginning at 10 a.m. every day, with ticket sales ending at 5:30 p.m. and tours ending by 6 p.m. daily.

this 40-minute, self-guided, interactive tour highlights historic artifacts and stories about Seattle through the lens of this historic building, navigating visitors through back rooms and secret nooks. Combining interesting facts and lore with sprinkles of humor and intrigue, this tour makes for a great experience at any age. As you are transported back in time through your tour experience, additional highlights include stunning, 360-degree views of Seattle from the 35th floor Observatory and open-air viewing deck and access to the speakeasy-inspired Temperance café and bar as well as historic exhibits available only to guests visiting the Observatory. Adults: $19.14; children ages 5-12: $14.00; seniors over 65 and military with ID: $17.00.

Straight Up. The ideal option for those who want direct access to breathtaking, 360-degree views of Seattle via the Observatory and open-air viewing deck. With ticket purchase, visitors are granted access to Temperance café and bar, as well as historic exhibits available in the Observatory. All ages: $10.00. Straight Up tickets are available in limited quantities from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Launching this winter, Smith Tower will offer an additional interactive tour experience:

The Bootleg King. An enhanced, self-guided role-playing tour that builds on the Legends of Smith Tower tour and grants access to additional intrigue and participation. Ideal for new and return visitors to Smith Tower, the tour is grounded in mystery, clues and discovery, all tethered to the scintillating story of Roy Olmstead, Seattle’s rum-running Bootleg King during the Prohibition era. This tour includes all features of The Legends of Smith Tower tour, and is enhanced with special clues that unlock additional mysteries and exclusive access to secret drinks for all ages from Temperance café and bar.

Another new amenity located on the ground floor is Smith Tower Provisions, a general store stocked with all the essentials for tenants and visitors. Provisions will offer sweet treats at the soda fountain including nostalgic favorites like floats with all-natural Full Tilt Ice Cream, as well as grab n’ go fare at the deli counter. If you’re in need of a last-minute gift or maybe a dozen eggs, Provisions will feature a curated retail store filled with locally inspired gifts, art, apparel and grocery staples like milk and fresh flowers.

In addition to dynamic tours and Northwest-inspired food and beverage offerings, Smith Tower is the perfect setting for meetings, events, intimate weddings and celebrations. Indoor and outdoor spaces on multiple floors combine to provide more than 4,500 square feet of event space, ideal for the party planner or host looking for a cosmopolitan venue that offers unparalleled views of Seattle in bustling Pioneer Square.

Smith Tower opened in 1914 as the first skyscraper in Seattle and tallest building west of the Mississippi. Located just steps from the picturesque downtown waterfront, Smith Tower has stood as a Northwest cultural icon for more than 100 years, delighting visitors and maintaining its status as a premier office space for companies of all sizes and industries.

Smith Tower will officially open to the public on Thursday, August 25, at 10 a.m. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit http://smithtower.com.