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| 1/24/26 Views from the Columbia Center's 73rd floor Sky View Observatory |
During my first few years of sketching, the ticket price to ride up to the Columbia Center’s 73rd floor Sky View Observatory was only $5. A small group of sketchers had gathered up there a couple of times, and I went up myself on other occasions (here’s a sketch from 2012, and another from 2013). Eventually, the ticket price crept up to the current price of $33, making it cost-prohibitive as a USk venue.
Lady luck and a kind ticket seller were with us this afternoon, however, when USk Seattle showed up. We thought we would have access to the entire interesting lobby area that’s open to the public on weekdays. Unfortunately, under a new policy, only the ticketing area to the observation floor is open on weekends. Taking pity on us on that cold day, the ticket seller offered us a generous group discount, so most of us opted to sketch from the 73rd floor.
On a cloudless day, the 360-degree view was incomparable! In addition to Mt. Rainier and the Olympic mountains, Mt. Baker is visible from up there – one of few spots in Seattle where that northern peak can be seen. Yes, Columbia Center is even better than the Space Needle (a ticket to the top now costs $49), which is always jam-packed with tourists. Although some tourists were at Columbia Center, most snapped a few photos and moved on quickly, leaving all the cushy seating to sketchers.
And sketch we did! Nearly 40 sketchers enjoyed an inspiring afternoon in the sky.
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| Mt. Rainier and the Cascades to the south |
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| Mt. Baker to the north |
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| My 5-minute sketch of Columbia Center from 4th and Cherry |
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