| Seattle's Pioneer Square holds two architectural
gems that are immediately across the street from one another.
When the L.C. Smith Building (of Smith and Wesson and Smith and
Corona fame) opened in 1914, it was the fourth tallest building in
the world at 42 stories, and remained the tallest structure west of
the Mississippi River for almost 50 years. It features a terra
cotta exterior and the famous gothic pyramid topped with a shining
blue globe (green during the holidays.) If you get the chance, let
the elevator operators take you up to the Chinese Room and you will
see an ornate interior with a great view of Seattle and the Puget
Sound.
I have worked in this building, and have also attended a
friend's wedding reception in the Chinese Room, so I have a special
fondness for what is today known as Smith Tower. However, there
were no logical places to place a cache here, so now I will
introduce you to another, older Seattle relic.
The nearby Romanesque-style Interurban Building (also known as
the Smith Tower Annex) was originally built as a bank in 1890 after
the great fire of Seattle. It has since been converted to a train
depot and back again to office space. Most notable is the red
sandstone exterior - Architect John Parkinson had it shipped in
from Colorado in order to stand out among other local
buildings.
It is here that you will find a micro-cache with no room for a
pen, so you will need to bring your own.
This is a heavy-traffic area for tourists, workers, and the
residentially challenged. I would not advise coming at night.
Satellite coverage is terrible here, so it's only fair that I tell
you that you are looking for a small magnetic bison tube. Also,
there is no need to dig or get dirty. Please feel free to email me
if you have questions.
PLEASE be mindful of nearby onlookers. This is not the best area
to let others in on the secret... Stealth is definitely required
here. There is no need to go into the alley, either. Have
fun!!!
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Courtesy of: davin@eskimo.com
Courtesy of: Seattle Public Library
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