Since the end of the 1800s, only seven different buildings have held the distinction of being Seattle’s tallest structure. In chronological order, they are…

Pioneer Building

Ca. unknown

Ca. 1900

Photos: Rob Ketcherside/Flickr, Seattle Muncipal Archives/Flickr

Years tallest: 1892 – 1904

Height: 94 feet, 6 floors

Location: 600 First Avenue

Interesting facts: Built on the site of Yesler Mansion, the Richardsonian Romanesque-style structure was designed by architect Elmer Fisher. In 1898, during the Klondike Gold Rush, the Pioneer Building was home to 48 mining companies. During the prohibition era, the building was home to Seattle’s first speakeasy.

Alaska Building

Ca. 1909

Ca. 1913

Photos: CircaSassy/Flickr, Seattle Public Library

Years tallest: 1904 – 1906

Height: 203 feet, 14 floors

Location: 618 2nd Avenue

Interesting facts: Developed as Seattle’s original skyscraper and built in only 11 months, the building was also the first steel-framed structure in the Northwest. In 2007 the Alaska Building was purchased for $38.7 million and is now a Marriott hotel.

King Street Station Tower

Ca. 1906

Ca. 1911

Ca. 1950

Photos: Seattle Public Library, Seattle Public Library, Seattle Public Library

Years tallest: 1906 – 1914

Height: 246 feet, 8 floors

Location: 303 South Jackson Street

Interesting facts: The station was designed by Minnesota architects Charles A. Reed and Allen H. Stem, who later went on to create New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. King Street Station originally served as the Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway until Amtrack became prominent in the early 1970s.

Smith Tower

Ca. 1913

Ca. 1923

Ca. 1929

Ca. 1950

Photos: Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr, Seattle Public Library, Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr, Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr

Years tallest: 1914 – 1961

Height: 489 feet, 49 floors

Location: 506 Second Avenue

Interesting facts: Smith Tower was originally built by typewriter and firearm entrepreneur Lyman Cornelius Smith. Although Lyman didn’t live to see the project through to completion, his son was able to continue his legacy. Smith Tower quickly became the tallest structure on the West Coast until the Space Needle stole the title in 1962. Today, the tower’s pyramid-shaped penthouse is home to Petra Franklin Lahaie and her family. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is surprisingly spacious at 1,750 square feet.

Space Needle

Ca. 1961

Ca. 1978

Photos: Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr, seattle.gov, Wikimedia, Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr

Years tallest: 1961 – 1969

Height: 605 feet

Location: 400 Broad Street

Interesting facts: The original plans for the Space Needle were drawn on a coffee shop placemat in 1959 by entrepreneur Edward E. Carlson. By the time land was finally acquired to build the Space Needle, construction crews had only one year to get the structure completed in time for the 1961 World’s Fair, which had a 21st century theme. The modular, flying saucer-topped Space Needle was to be the main event. More interesting facts and historic photos of the Space Needle can be found here.

Safeco Plaza

Ca. 1969

Ca. 1970

Photos: Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr, Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr, Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr

Years tallest: 1969 – 1985

Height: 630 feet, 50 floors

Location: 1001 Fourth Avenue

Interesting facts: The building, which also goes by the names 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza and Seattle-First National Bank Building, was one of the first rectangular skyscrapers to mark the Seattle skyline.

Columbia Center

Ca. 1986

Ca. 2014

Photos: theslowlane/Flickr, JoeInSouthernCA/Flickr

Years tallest: 1985 – present

Height: 943 feet, 76 floors

Location: 701 5th Avenue

Interesting facts: Formerly known as Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, this building is now the second tallest skyscraper on the West Coast. During construction, 15,000 tons of steel were used to build the massive building. In summer 2015, the center was purchased for $711 million by Hong Kong investors.