Museums, architecture? (Seattle, Tacoma, Kent: appointed, houses, theater)

[oak317]

I was curious if Seattle is known for its arts and/or architecture? Are there any world-class museums in the city, any architectural wonders?

I know of the Space Needle which was built for the 1962 World's Fair, but unfortunately, beyond that I am ignorant

I also wonder whether landslides and/or flooding pose a problem for its architecture. I know it has plenty of landslides, and being a coastal city I guess that flooding might be an issue as well, though of that I'm not sure.

[sean98125]

I don't think that we're particularly known for either the arts or architecture. We've had some impact on popular music over the years, and our aboriginal art is pretty unique to this part of the world. The only world-class museum I can think of is the Museum of Flight. We don't have anything that can hold a candle to the Art Institute or the Field Museum, though.

Landslides are only a problem if you live on top of or beneath a steep hillside. Most of our hills are made of loosely compacted glacial till and are still eroding. I can't think of a time when we had any issue with coastal flooding, but our rivers can flood pretty regularly.

[GatsbyGatz]

Originally Posted by oak317

I also wonder whether landslides and/or flooding pose a problem for its architecture. I know it has plenty of landslides, and being a coastal city I guess that flooding might be an issue as well, though of that I'm not sure.

The biggest safety concern that you should read up on is the fact that Seattle's urban core is built on landfill and technically shouldn't even exist.

Look at historical maps that show Seattle's original geography. Where downtown now sits used to be water ebbing and flowing upon a swampy steep incline.

A significant portion of downtown, all of the waterfront, and most of Pioneer Square is built on landfill shaved off from regrading Seattle's hills. Seattle's urban core is a completely man-made structure, and at the time Seattle was the most massive terra-forming operation that the world had ever seen before.

With today's safety and environmental regulations, Seattle would have never existed. Seattle was birthed back when regulations were limited and pioneers were doing dramatic things to the natural land. Whether or not it is wise that we built our skyscrapers on landfill over an active fault line is suspect...

... I for one still think Tacoma's location should have been the site of the Puget Sound's biggest metropolis. Geographically and logistically, I think it would have made a superior site for a large metropolis.

[dubfan]

Originally Posted by oak317

I was curious if Seattle is known for its arts and/or architecture? Are there any world-class museums in the city, any architectural wonders?

I know of the Space Needle which was built for the 1962 World's Fair, but unfortunately, beyond that I am ignorant

I also wonder whether landslides and/or flooding pose a problem for its architecture. I know it has plenty of landslides, and being a coastal city I guess that flooding might be an issue as well, though of that I'm not sure.

Seattle was, until relatively recently, a sleepy logging and fishing town in one of the last places to be settled in the continental US. We never had the exorbitant wealth of San Francisco with its ornate Victorian architecture. It's only due to the technology and aerospace industries that we have rich benefactors to establish major museums. Our best museums focus on industry and pop culture. Our most famous architecture is from the post-war modern period. I don't mean to diminish the museums and good architecture we do have, but if you're expecting anything like what you would find in eastern cities you will be disappointed.

[Hemlock140]

Our Seattle Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park are nice, but it's not like you need to see them very often. Same with the underground tour and lower Pike Place Market, once is enough but pretty cool. Most of the landslide issues are away from the City, we have them regularly along the rail corridor north of Seattle, and as you may have read in the news, a nasty one recently in Oso near Darrington in Snohomish County. In Seattle I would be more worried about liquifaction from a big earthquake, since there is so much of it built on fill at sea level. Flooding could also be a problem with a tsunami, but Seattle has decent drainage and the rain is usually more of a constant drizzle so not much flooding and very localized due to clogged drains. Flooding problems are common east of the City on rivers when the snow melts too fast, especially in the Snoqualmie Valley, and Kent, Monroe, Snoqualmie and Fall City.

[sean98125]

I love the Olympic Sculpture Park - some of the best views of Elliott Bay and the Olympics. It's just a shame that some of the views are marred by the artwork.

[PollyGlott]

Architecturally speaking, I would include the Rem Koolhaas-designed Seattle Public Library. Interesting both inside and out!

[Ira500]

Architecturally significant doesn't necessarily mean appealing. I find the Koolhaas designed library particularly user unfriendly. The Experience Music Project looks like alien spaceships that crash landed. But Seattle does have some cool old buildings. I love the Space Needle. The Northern Life building is beautiful. The Smith Tower is awesome. None of these are likely to be destroyed by a mudslide.

[SaltyDawg]

I'd never describe Seattle as architecturally significant. It just... isn't. There are craftsman houses, there are cape cods, Victorians, Tudors, moderns... but no real iconic versions of any. It's part of being such a young city relatively.

As others have mentioned, the Smith Tower, Space Needle, EMP, downtown library are all significant in their own ways and worth a visit.

The Museum of Flight is superior to the (pre-remodeled) Smithsonian Air & Space museum, IMHO. I was shocked at how run down the Smithsonian was when I last visited (some 5 years ago). The Museum of flight is constantly evolving and has some really first-class exhibits.

SAM is good, not great. They get some terrific traveling exhibits. The Frye is a unique, free museum with a fantastic location and collection - great size to introduce folks without overwhelming them, too. The Henry Art Museum is of a similar scale and has some memorable permanent exhibits (Turrell being the one that sticks out to me) to go with some dynamic traveling ones.

EMP is a tourist museum, but well-executed and sited as those go. Haven't been to the new MOHAI yet, but the setting is superb.

Seattle way out-punches its weight class when it comes to 'the arts', however. Symphony, opera, theater, music... all operate at a quality level of top 5 US cities. Architecture & museums, not so much.