Space Needle.

Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle is Seattle’s defining mid-century landmark, rising 605 feet above the Seattle Center. A 41-second elevator ride whips visitors up to the observation deck, where massive floor-to-ceiling glass panels offer unobstructed, 360-degree views of downtown, Elliott Bay, the Cascade and Olympic mountains, and Mount Rainier. The tower's engineering standout is The Loupe, the world's first revolving glass floor, which lets you peer straight down at the city beneath your feet, while tilted glass benches invite you to lean out over the skyline. It is a thrilling mix of retro-futurist architecture and modern design that remains the most iconic spot to map out Seattle’s geography from high above.