In an effort to provide a bit of local flavor to our conference blog, we have invited Natalie Malin, a native Seattleite and a Board member of Washington State JGS, to fill us in on the sites and experiences of Seattle. Natalie’s Seattle pedigree goes back several generations: all her grandparents lived in Seattle and even her paternal great grandfather, Peter Thomas (a founding member of Herzl Synagogue), called Seattle home.
by Natalie Malin
We hope you will join us for this 36th meeting of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies in beautiful Seattle in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle has a great deal to offer the touring genealogist.
One may expect pleasant weather here in August. Seattle has a mild climate — it rarely gets too hot or too cold. Temperatures are typically reach a high of around 76 degrees Fahrenheit, and a low of around 57 degrees F. We locals find it helpful to layer clothing so you can remove a sweater or jacket if you get too warm from walking in the sun. It’s also good to be prepared when you feel chilly in air-conditioned restaurants. August is typically our sunniest month, with only occasional rain showers. It may be helpful to have a small light-weight umbrella just in case. If you have a weather app on your phone, you’ll know in advance if there is a possibility of rain that day.
While you’re here, some sights you’ll want to visit include our #1 attraction: the Space Needle. You may also want to spend time at the Pike Place Market; the Seattle Center, including the Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit; the Great Wheel (the tallest Ferris Wheel on the West Coast) overlooking Elliot Bay; and the Ballard Locks.
Today, we’ll concentrate on the Space Needle. Over the next few weeks we’ll cover other Seattle attractions, as well. I will include website links for these venues, as well as addresses and ticket information. And, once you are in Seattle, we’ll make sure you have maps directing you from the Sheraton Hotel to those venues.
The Space Needle
In 1962, space travel was a thing of the future and we were thrilled to have our futuristic iconic Space Needle, which was built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair (remember George Orwell’s 1984 was way in the future at that time!). The early 1960s was a time when gold charm bracelets were all the rage, and I had a beautiful charm depicting the Space Needle, with my new-born son’s name and birth date on it.
When the Space Needle was built it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. It remains the #1 attraction in the Northwest. If you wish to visit the observation deck, special glass-enclosed view elevators whisk you 520 feet above terra firma where you’ll have a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier, the Seattle cityscape including our waterways, and our many diverse neighborhoods.
Factoids: Two of the Space Needle elevators are high speed and can travel at a rate of 10 mph, or 800 feet per minute. Actual travel time from the ground level to the top-house is 43 seconds. Under high wind conditions these high-speed passenger elevators are slowed to 5 mph.
For fine dining in a casual atmosphere, you might want to reserve a table 500 feet above ground level at “SkyCity,” the Space Needle’s revolving restaurant. This excellent restaurant, which serves Pacific Northwest cuisine (seafood, steak, chicken and vegetarian menu items), revolves slowly, but continuously to provide a 360-degree view of Seattle. Each visit to “Sky City” includes free admission to the observation deck. A note of caution if you eat at the restaurant: your table won’t be in the same place when you return from the restroom!
The space Needle is a little over a mile from the Seattle Sheraton (the conference venue). The Space Needle is open everyday from 10 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. For further information about the Space Needle and Sky City, go to the Space Needle website at http://www.spaceneedle.com/home/ . Tickets may be purchased online or, on-site, at the base of the Space Needle.