While writing They’re Going to Kill You, my characters have found themselves at the Seattle Space Needle. I spent some time researching the Needle and thought I’d share some interesting facts.

The observation tower was built in 1961 as the centerpiece of the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle. Its architecture reflects the era’s fascination with space and futuristic elements.
During construction, 467 cement trucks poured concrete for an entire day, setting a record for the largest continuous concrete pour in Western history at the time. The project cost $4.5 million, a significant amount back then.

Standing at 605 feet tall, the Space Needle was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Today, that record belongs to the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles, which is 1,100 feet tall.
The observation deck offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding natural landscapes. In 2018, the tower introduced the first revolving glass floor.

The Space Needle is privately owned and has welcomed around 60 million visitors, adding about 1.3 million more each year.
Since its opening, six parachutists have leaped from the tower, an activity legal only with prior authorization. Four of these jumps were part of an authorized promotion in 1996, while the other two were unauthorized. Sadly, three people have also jumped from the tower without parachutes to commit suicide. Hopefully, that’s not why my characters are there, but you’ll have to pick up the novel when it releases to find out.
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