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Columbia Center, located in downtown Seattle, is the city’s tallest building. It opened in 1985 and is 76 stories tall. The building is mostly used for office space, but there is retail space on the ground floors and an observation deck on the 73rd floor.
Sky View Observatory
We visited the Sky View Observatory at Columbia Center on a rainy day. After taking the elevator up to the 73rd floor, we entered the observation deck. General admission starts at US$30 (as of November 2023) with other experiences available.
A model of the building as well as details about its history and construction were present, as was information about landmarks and mountains that could be spotted from the tower on a clear day.
Because of the weather, visibility was quite low, but we were able to spot several Seattle landmarks, such as the Space Needle, International District, and St. James Cathedral (see below).
St. James Cathedral
Just a few blocks east of Columbia Center is St. James Cathedral, one of Seattle’s most beautiful churches. This Catholic church was built in 1907. It once featured a large dome that collapsed in 1916 and was never rebuilt.
Of particular interest on the exterior are the stained glass windows and doors. Inside, the relics of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, who worshipped at the cathedral during her time in Seattle, are sealed under the altar.
