Seattle Area, Washington, USA

Autumn maple leaves color the forest floor in the University of Washington Arboretum.

Maple leaves. University of Washington Arboretum.

Washington Page 1, Seattle Area:
Seattle ( fireworks , Space Needle & EMP , University of Washington ~ Page 1a: Seattle Aquarium ~ Page 1b: Volunteer Park Conservatory ) ; Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island

Index to Washington: Page 0: Highlights ~ map ~ 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6 ~ 7

Page 1: Seattle Area (this page): Seattle ( fireworks , Space Needle & EMP , University of Washington ) ; Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island ; guidebooks

Page 2: North Cascade Mountains : Mount Baker , Mount Shuksan , Sauk Mountain , Anacortes , Grasshopper Pass , Maple Pass , Rainy Pass SR20 , Hidden Lake Lookout , Sahale Arm , 2a: Skagit Valley Tulips
Page 3: Whidbey & San Juan Islands: Deception Pass , Ebey's Landing , Fort Casey , Meerkerk Gardens
Page 4: Mountain Loop Highway: Glacier Peak , Mt Pilchuck , Green Mountain , Gothic Basin , Lake 22 , Walt Bailey Trail , plants, flowers, insects , southern Mt Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest
Page 5: Central Cascades, Highway 2 & Interstate 90: Alpine Lakes Wilderness (mountains, larch, mushrooms) , Surprise Lake , Granite Mt , Lake Serene , Carne Mountain
Page 6: Southwest WA: Mt. Rainier , Goat Rocks , Mt. Adams , Mt. St. Helens
Page 7: Olympic Peninsula: Lavender Farms , Olympic National Park , Port Townsend , ferries , Mount Townsend rhododendrons

Seattle

Above: I captured this view of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains at sunset, on July 4, 2007. (I stitched this panorama from 4 images, photographed from the 33rd floor of First Hill Plaza, 1301 Spring Street, Seattle.)

Fireworks over Seattle

Left : Spectacular fireworks explode over Gasworks Park and Union Bay, at dusk July 4, 2007 in Seattle. A large audience on boats watches from Union Bay.

Below: Red, white and blue fireworks explode over Gasworks Park and Union Bay, on July 4, 2007 in Seattle. A large audience on boats watches from Union Bay.

Left: Fireworks burst July 4, 1988 over Gasworks Park in Seattle.

Below: The last orange rays of sunset illuminate clouds over our back yard in Seattle.

Below: Fireworks explode over Gasworks Park and Union Bay, at dusk July 4, 2007 in Seattle. A large audience on boats watches from Union Bay.

Left: Low smoke from the fireworks of July 4, 2007 drifts over downtown Seattle and the Space Needle.

Below: From the top of 1301 Spring Street, I photographed this view of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains at dusk, July 4, 2007.

Above: Red and green fireworks explode over Gasworks Park and Union Bay, at dusk July 4, 2007 in Seattle. A large audience on boats watches from Union Bay.

Seattle Center

The Space Needle (605 feet tall) annually hosts more than 1 million visitors, making it the number one tourist attraction in the Pacific Northwest. When the Space Needle was built in 1962 for the World's Fair, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. The entire Space Needle saucer does not rotate, only a 14-foot ring next tthe windows rotates on the SkyCity restaurant level. The 100 foot, or SkyLine, level was built in 1982. The original name of the Space Needle was "The Space Cage." The original name of the restaurant was "Eye of the Needle."

Left: The Space Needle (605 feet tall), at Seattle Center, Washington, USA. The Space Needle annually hosts more than 1 million visitors, making it the number one tourist attraction in the Pacific Northwest. When the Space Needle was built in 1962 for the World's Fair, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. The entire Space Needle saucer does not rotate, only a 14-foot ring next tthe windows rotates on the SkyCity restaurant level. The 100 foot, or SkyLine, level was built in 1982. The original name of the Space Needle was "The Space Cage." The original name of the restaurant was "Eye of the Needle."

Below: A flock of geese flies over the International Fountain near the Space Needle.

Left: White arches rise over dinosaur replicas at the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Center, Washington.

Below: A child runs excitedly through jets of water. The International Fountain was built for the 1962 World's Fair at Seattle Center, Washington, USA, as a modernist water sculpture. With over 20 spouts, the musical fountain goes through programmed cycles of shooting water patterns, accompanied by recorded world music. The music is changed every month, and chosen to coordinate with the water patterns.

Above: From the Space Needle's observation deck at 520 feet (160 m), visitors see this view of Seattle's downtown buildings and Mount Rainier. (Panorama stitched from 4 images.)

Left: The Space Needle, located in Seattle Center, is the symbol of Seattle, and a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region. Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Space Needle is 605 feet (184 m) high and 138 feet (42 m) wide at its widest point. When it was completed it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. It has 25 lightning rods on the roof, and can withstand winds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) and earthquakes up to 9.5 magnitude (which would protect the structure against an earthquake as powerful as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake). The Space Needle features an observation deck at 520 feet (160 m), the SkyCity restaurant at 500 feet (152 m), and a gift shop. From the top of the Needle, you can see the Downtown Seattle skyline, Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands. (Panorama stitched from 3 images.)

Below: The sun sets like an orange ball over the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, seen from downtown Seattle, Washington.

Below: The Seattle Monorail travels through the artistic buildings of Paul Allen's Experience Music Project (EMP). (Photographed from the Space Needle's 100-foot SkyLine Level banquet room.)
The Experience Music Project (EMP, opened in the year 2000) is a museum of music history founded by Paul Allen (the co-founder of Microsoft Corporation), located on the Seattle Center campus, in Seattle, Washington, USA. Located near the Space Needle, it is one of the two stops on the Seattle Center Monorail, which runs through the building. Paul Allen's Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is located within the EMP building. The structure of EMP was designed by Frank Gehry, and resembles many of his firm's other works in its sheet-metal construction, such as Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Gehry Tower. The central "Sky Church" room pays homage to Jimi Hendrix and other rock 'n' roll icons. EMP has provided funding for radio station KEXP in partnership with the University of Washington.

Left: A bronze roof on Paul Allen's Experience Music Project, in Seattle Center. (Photographed from the Space Needle's 100-foot SkyLine Level banquet room.)

Below: A deliberately crumpled blue roof on Paul Allen's Experience Music Project, in Seattle Center. (Photographed from the Space Needle's 100-foot SkyLine Level banquet room.)

Left: A rosy metallic building of Paul Allen's Experience Music Project, in Seattle Center. (Photographed from the Space Needle's 100-foot SkyLine Level banquet room.)

Below: Visitors ride the Seattle Monorail through the artistic buildings of Paul Allen's Experience Music Project, in Seattle Center. (Photographed from the Space Needle's 100-foot SkyLine Level banquet room.)

Left: From the Space Needle's 100-foot SkyLine Level banquet room, you can see Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the arches of the Pacific Science Center.

Below: The KOMO News Building and downtown Seattle can be seen from the Space Needle's 100-foot SkyLine Level banquet room.

Left: In this view from the Space Needle's 100-foot SkyLine Level banquet room, you can see rides of the Fun Forest Amusement Park, and the domed IMAX Theatre and stylistic arches of the Pacific Science Center, at Seattle Center.

Below: Trees with autumn colors grow next to the Experience Music Project (EMP), a museum of music history founded by Paul Allen (the co-founder of Microsoft Corporation), located on the Seattle Center campus, in Seattle, Washington, USA.

Below: At the base of the Space Needle is "Sci-Fi Swine", by Jules Anslow, who describes her pig's artistic style as "neo-Dada". This is one of the 100 "Pigs on Parade" in Seattle, first launched by the Pike Place Market Foundation in 2001, to bring public art to the city while helping to raise money for human services. In 1971, the citizens of Seattle voted to save the Pike Place Public Market Center from the wrecking ball and also to ensure vital social services for low-income people. The Market Foundation thought a piggy bank could help raise money for these services, and Georgia Gerber, a local sculptor, designed Rachel, the Market’s bronze piggy bank, which inspired the 100 "Pigs on Parade".

Left: "Sci-Fi Swine", by Jules Anslow, is located at the base of the Space Needle in Seattle.

Below: Seattle summer sunset reflects in downtown buildings, with the Space Needle in the foreground. I photographed this image on the day of my first date (June 26, 1995) with Carol, and we married two years later! [Published on the cover of the "1996 Graduate Program Brochure" for the Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle.]

University of Washington

Left: Japanese maples in the University of Washington Arboretum.

Below: University of Washington Arboretum: Japanese Garden. [Published on the cover of the "1996 Graduate Program Brochure" for the Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle.]

Seattle Public Library

Seattle Public Library, new in 2004. Left: Seattle Public Library, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, finished in 2004.

Below: Interior of 2004 Seattle Public Library.

Seattle Public Library, new in 2004.
Left: Exterior of 2004 Seattle Public Library.

Below: A tree growing next to the 2004 Seattle Public Library.

More Seattle

Left: Pink orchid flowers bloom in the Volunteer Park Conservatory, Seattle, Washington. Click here for more flower and plant images from the Volunteer Park Conservatory (Washington Page 1b).

Below: Ripples on the water surface distort an orange and red sea anemone at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington. Click here to see more images from the Seattle Aquarium (Washington Page 1a).

For a cheerful splash of color in midwinter, I like to visit the following two special places: Washington Page 1a: Seattle Aquarium and Page 1b: Volunteer Park Conservatory
1991 partial solar eclipse over Puget Sound, seen from Seattle.

1991 partial solar eclipse over Puget Sound, seen from Seattle.

Left: A partial solar eclipse sets over Puget Sound in 1991 and spotlights a sailboat, seen from Sunset Hill Park, in Seattle. [Published on the cover of The Mountaineer, September 1996, the monthly magazine of The Mountaineers club. Winner of Best Scenic in their 1996 cover photo contest.]

Below: Brushes have frozen in red and yellow wax at the Watercolor and Beeswax Encaustic Studio of Deborah Stachowic, at the historic Rainier Cold Center, 5626 Airport Way S, Seattle, Washington 98108-2710. I have regularly sold photographic prints at Deborah's studio at the summer Georgtown Art Walk and the first weekend in December (2003-2008). Deborah Stachowic's studio is in an 1890's registered historic building south of downtown Seattle, in the historic Georgetown area. This venerable building lies sandwiched between Airport Way South (formerly a gravel road) and train tracks at the back. The Rainier Beer Company originally used this building as Rainier Cold Storage, and it retains impressive 18-inch thick wooden braces and beams. In the past, horses pulled beer wagons up ramps right into the building, through the large loading dock doors that now enter my studio! Nowadays many artists have moved in and converted the building into a beehive of creativity, with stimulating interaction between different disciplines.

Above: Brushes have frozen in red wax at the Watercolor and Beeswax Encaustic Studio of Deborah Stachowic, at the historic Rainier Cold Center, in Seattle, Washington.

Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island

The Bloedel Reserve is a 150-acre forest garden on Bainbridge Island, Washington, made by the vice-chairman of a lumber company, under the influence of the conservation movement and oriental philosophy. The Bloedel Reserve has both natural and highly-landscaped lakes, immaculate lawns, woods, a traditional Japanese garden, a rock and sand Zen garden, a moss garden, a rhododendron glade, and a Reflection Garden. The Bloedel's French Chateau-style home is preserved as a Visitor Center, including many original furnishings. Reservations are required. Visit www.bloedelreserve.org for more information.

Below: Carol and I visited the beautiful Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, near the peak of fall colors on October 19, 2005. For more information visit www.bloedelreserve.org.

Left: A pond at Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, October 19, 2005.

    Below right: Tree trunks and Japanese maple fall color.

Left: looking up into multicolored maple leaves. Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, October 19, 2005.

    Below right: Stone and sand Japanese garden.

Left: looking up into backlit Japanese maple leaves. Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, October 19, 2005.

    Below right: Hydrangea

Left: Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island was near its peak of fall colors on October 19, 2005. For more information visit www.bloedelreserve.org

Below: Visitors explore the Japanese Garden.

Left: This modern building combines the architectural style of a Japanese Tea House with a Northwest Indian Longhouse.

Below: mossy branches of a Japanese maple tree at Bloedel Reserve, on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Above: Impressive fireworks explode over Gasworks Park and Union Bay, at dusk July 4, 2007 in Seattle. See more fireworks images above.

Washington Map:

Above: Washington Page 1, Seattle Area
Index to this page: Seattle ( fireworks , Space Needle & EMP , University of Washington ~ Page 1a: Seattle Aquarium ~ Page 1b: Volunteer Park Conservatory ) ; Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island

Copyright 1982-2008 by Tom Dempsey. Photographs may not be copied without permission.

Guidebooks: I recommend any of following books from Amazon.com for hikers and bicyclists:

Index to Washington: Page 0: Highlights ~ map ~ 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6 ~ 7

Page 1: Seattle Area (to top of this page): Seattle ( fireworks , Space Needle & EMP , University of Washington ) ; Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island ; guidebooks

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