Pioneer Square in Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Smith Tower
| — | 1989 Washington State Centennial | — |
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, September 13, 2009
1. Smith Tower Marker
Seattle’s first skyscraper opened on July 4, 1914. The 42 story Smith Tower was the tallest building outside of New York City and Seattle’s tallest for nearly fifty years. It was built by Lyman Smith of Smith-Corona and Smith and Wesson fame, from Syracuse, New York. Sheathed entirely in terra cotta, the building was designed by the Syracuse firm of Gaggin and Gaggin. In a race to construct Seattle’s tallest building, Smith also hoped to anchor the “Second Avenue Canyon” area as the center of downtown. He died before the tower was completed.
Erected 1989 by Historic Seattle, Museum of History and Industry, Pioneer Square Businesses, and King County.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1914.
Location. 47° 36.114′ N, 122° 19.915′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in Pioneer Square. It can be reached from 2nd Avenue north of Yester Way, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 506 2nd Avenue, Seattle WA 98104, United States of
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Interurban Building (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Interurban Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Building (about 400 feet away); Who built Seattle? (about 500 feet away); Merchant’s Cafe (about 500 feet away); Carson D. Boren (about 500 feet away); The Broderick Building (about 500 feet away); The St. Charles Apartments (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seattle.
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Battle of Seattle (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . . Lyman Cornelius Smith.
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, September 13, 2009
2. The Smith Tower Building, Seattle
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, September 13, 2009
3. Smith Tower Marker at the building's main entrance
Photographed by Wikipedia
4. Smith Tower under construction - 1913
"...Other prominent buildings in the picture are the Frye Hotel (now Frye Apartments) at left, the triangular Seattle Hotel (demolished in the 1960s) just left of the Smith Tower and the Butler Hotel (partially demolished in the 1930s, now Butler Garage) just right of the Smith Tower."
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, September 13, 2009
5. Downtown Seattle - view north from the Smith Tower's 35th floor observation deck.
Note the "Space Needle" tower, visible in the far distance, center, middle. When erected in 1962, it was the first structure on the west coast to exceed the Smith Tower in height. Both buildings are now overshadowed by subsequent skyscraper construction.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,430 times since then and 81 times this year. Last updated on February 23, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 16, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
