The Space Needle is in the midst of a multi-year privately funded renovation, the first phase of which was completed at the end of May. And while it’s exciting to see all the changes, it’s also fun to look back almost 60 years to when the Needle was first constructed. These photos are rarely seen, but they’re pretty impressive.

The Space Needle was privately financed and built by the Pentagram Corporation.
Seattle Municipal Archives / Flickr
Since it wasn't financed by the city, the land had to be purchased within the fairgrounds.
It took quite awhile to find the perfect plot. But once they did, they purchased the land for $75,000.
Seattle Municipal Archives / Flickr
By then, less than a year remained until the 1962 World's Fair, so the Needle construction had to happen quickly.
The construction team worked around the clock, but obviously, they got the job done.
Wikimedia
It was completed in April 1962 for a total of $4.5 million.

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The skyline sure looked different in 1961, didn't it?
Space Needle Facebook
It's hard to imagine the Seattle skyline without the Needle. Love it or hate it, it's a local icon.
Seattle Municipal Archives / Flickr
When it was completed, the Space Needle was the tallest building in the western U.S., replacing the Smith Tower in downtown Seattle as the tallest building west of the Mississippi since 1914.
Space Needle Facebook
Recently, the Needle has been getting a bit of a Spacelift.
Space Needle Facebook
The first phase is now complete, and guests can enjoy the sweeping Seattle views surrounded by glass panels instead of a wired steel cage.

Can you believe this enormous structure was constructed in less than a year? Here are a few other Washington facts that might surprise you.

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