Smith Tower
Formerly: L.C. Smith Building Built: 1911-1914 Cost: $1,000,000.00 Designed by: Gaggin and Gaggin Renovated: 1999-2000 Type: Skyscraper Stories: 42 Maximum Height: 522 feet / 159 meters Location: 506 Second Avenue, Seattle, United States
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H istorically significant, culturally relevant, and architecturally important. It is unusual for a skyscraper to have so many attributes that make it stand out from the rest, but nearly a century after Smith Tower defined a city and a culture, it is still revered as the venerable old man of Seattle's skyline. The Smith Tower has long been the subject of local folklore. It is said that after it opened, ships navigated Elliot Bay by looking for the tower. As a visitor, the thing you will notice is that it appears to sparkle as brilliantly today as it did when it opened nine decades ago. The brass surfaces in the elevator are polished to a fault, and the elevator operators (yes, real human elevator operators) wear uniforms as crisp and smart as any armed serviceman. Unlike today's modern buildings where the elevator opens into a beige hallway or corporate lobby, the elevators in the Smith Tower open onto common hallways where companies operate behind glass walls as if they were street front shops. The elevator doors are not sealed, so you can watch the levels pass and see how each floor is decorated in a different motif. The 35th floor is more than just an observation deck. it is home to the Chinese Room. Its hand-carved ceiling and furniture were a gift from the Empress of China. There used to be a lot more to it, but most of the furniture has been poached over the years by various building owners. One thing that remains is the "Wishing Chair." It is said that women who sit in this chair and hope to be married will tie the knot within a year.

• The Smith Tower is named for Lyman C. Smith, who is the "Smith" in Smith Corona typewriters. He did not live to see his tower's completion.
• The Smith Tower has 2,314 windows. The window frames are brass.
• The tower's windows can be opened.
• The tower rests on 1,276 concrete pilings.
• There is one apartment in the building. It is in the area from the 37th floor and higher. This was originally the caretaker's apartment and a water tank.

• 4 July, 1914: Smith Tower opens to the public.
• 1976: The Smith Tower is washed for the first time. Its white terra cotta exterior has proven remarkably resistant to dirt.
• 2000: The tower gets a US$28,000,000.00 facelift.
• July, 2007: This building is sold for $47 million.
• August, 2007: The Pioneer Square Preservation Board approves a plan to turn the building from offices into condominiums.

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Ann Matterand Gimbel
Thursday, July 9th, 2009 @ 7:49pm
Rating: Five stars.
I have been writing up our family story and found one entry that states my Grandfather, Ole S. Matterand, who came from Norway by himself as a 17 year old in 1864, was a offered the land on which the Smith Tower now stands for $25.00. This was after the Seattle fire (1889 or 1890). My Grandfather shied away from buying it because of the fire. My Grandfather lived in Stanwood WA, which, in 1877 had about the same population with less saloons and more churches than Seattle. Another story claims that he could sail his sloop out with the tide from Stanwood and be in Seattle in an hour! I'd like to believe both stories. He was 6'6" tall and usually able to perform what he said he would. Signed, Wanting to believe .

Kathy Barrett
July 7th, 2003
I was looking at some old postcards - one dated Sept 9th 1912 has a picture stating it is The new L.C. Smith Building Described as being 42 stories high, now being erected at the corner of Second Avenue and Yesler Way. Back of card says Eight Elevators - two serving the tower. Six hundred Offices, Six Stories, Telegraph Office on first floor, Barber Shop, Restaurant, Buffet in basement. Thirty-fifth floor furnished in Washington Fir used as an observatory. Exterior, Washington Granite for first two floors; above white glazed terra-cotta. Cost $1,500,000.

Gary Furguson
February 7th, 2003
I worked as an elevator operator in the Smith Tower in about 1953/54. The elevators were not automatic in any way and the operator had to "feel" the load and stopping distance and time, which varied with the passenger weight, so that, during rush hours, the passengers frequently had to step up or down as much as a few inches to enter or exit the car. During the "slow" times I would frequently go to the observation floor and do "push ups" until I heard the summoning bell. I was the "express" operator.

Charlene Esary
October 14th, 2002
In 1963 my first fulltime job was for Credit Consultants who were on the 16th floor (as I recall) of the Smith Tower. The building was in disrepair at that time. I'm so happy to hear its been renovated. Such a beautiful asset to the Seattle skyline.